What current zoning classification restricts industrial or commercial use on the property?

Certain zoning classifications are specifically intended to preserve residential, agricultural, or environmentally sensitive uses and restrict or prohibit industrial and commercial activities. These restrictions are enforced through local Development Control Regulations (DCRs), zoning codes, and urban master plans, and violations can lead to penalties, legal action, or denial of building permits.

Below are the primary zoning classifications that typically restrict industrial or commercial development

1. Residential Zoning (R1, R2, etc.)

• Purpose: Reserved for low-, medium-, or high-density housing.
  
• Restrictions:
  
  • Prohibits factories, warehouses, or large-scale commercial establishments.
    
  • May allow small-scale home businesses or shops under conditional use, but not industrial activity.
    
• Impact: Industrial use requires a Change of Land Use (CLU) approval and rezoning application.

2. Agricultural or Rural Zoning (AG, A1, Greenbelt)

• Purpose: Preserves farmland, open land, or low-impact rural use.
  
• Restrictions:
  
  • Prohibits construction of non-agricultural buildings (except farmhouses, sheds).
    
  • Industrial and commercial uses are not permitted unless conversion to Non-Agricultural (NA) use is approved.
    
• Common in: Urban peripheries, village boundaries, and green zone belts.

3. Conservation, Forest, or Eco-Sensitive Zones (CZ, ESZ, FZ)

• Purpose: Protect natural resources, biodiversity, and sensitive ecosystems.
  
• Restrictions:
  
  • Strictly prohibits all forms of industrial, mining, or commercial activity.
    
  • Requires clearance from the MoEFCC, Forest Department, or Wildlife Board.
    
• Examples: CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone), Forest Land, Wetland Buffers.

4. Public and Institutional Zoning (P, PI, G)

• Purpose: Reserved for educational, governmental, or healthcare institutions.
  
• Restrictions:
  
  • Industrial and retail developments are not allowed.
    
  • Commercial uses may be permitted only if they directly support public service (e.g., a canteen in a hospital).
    
• Rezoning is required to convert institutional land for private commercial or industrial use.

5. Open Space, Recreational, and Utility Zones (OS, RZ, UZ)

• Purpose: Allocated for parks, playgrounds, cemeteries, utility corridors, or civic amenities.
  
• Restrictions:
  
  • No construction or permanent industrial activity permitted.
    
  • Public infrastructure development is allowed, but private enterprise is barred.
    
• Impact: Even temporary warehousing or staging is prohibited unless zoning is altered.