ABSTRACT
Most local governments today use a wide variety of programs to implement their plans; they no longer rely on a few traditional programs, such as the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, and official plan lines. Zoning is intended to avoid disruptive land use patterns. In developed areas that are in good condition, zoning is generally perceived as a means of preserving the status quo. Zoning ordinances are administered primarily through the review of requests for building permits for new construction, or permits for the remodeling of existing structures. Some jurisdictions employ zoning inspectors to review the use of properties, and to negotiate with the owners of illegally used properties to bring about compliance with the zoning ordinance. Zoning ordinances often reflect commonly held views of how lands within a jurisdiction can, or should, be used at the present time, or in the very near future.
