Chapter 10 Floating Zone

• Library: The Zoning and Land Use Handbook (ABA) (2016 Ed.)

Chapter 10 Floating Zone

A. Definition

A "floating zone" is a technique whereby a zoning district, with regulations, is described in an ordinance but has not been located on the zoning map. It has been defined as "a special detailed use district of undetermined location in which the proposed kind, size, and form of structures must be pre-approved. It is legislatively pre-deemed compatible with the area in which it eventually locates if specific standards are met and the particular application is not unreasonable."¹

The floating zone, which is also referred to in the literature as a "planned development," should not be confused with a planned unit development. In a floating zone situation, the community has already established all of the criteria for the particular zone but has not designated any part of the community with that particular zoning...