Legal Definitions - cumulative zoning

Definition: Cumulative zoning is a method of zoning in which any use permitted in a higher-use, less intensive zone is permissible in a lower-use, more intensive zone. For example, under this method, a house could be built in an industrial zone but a factory could not be built in a residential zone.

Example: In a city, there is an industrial zone where factories are allowed to be built. However, there is also a residential zone where only houses are allowed to be built. Under cumulative zoning, if a house is allowed to be built in the industrial zone, then it is also allowed to be built in the residential zone. However, a factory cannot be built in the residential zone because it is not allowed in the less intensive zone.

This method of zoning helps to ensure that the more intensive uses of land are restricted to the appropriate zones, while still allowing for some flexibility in land use.