Do you see the term "zoning area" when looking at land or property listings?
Land has a variety of restrictions, and it is necessary to purchase land in line with its objectives.
In this article, we will focus on explaining the purpose and characteristics of zoning.
If you are considering purchasing the land, please use it as a reference.

What is the purpose of zoning?

Firstly, what is meant by zoning?
A zoning district is an area that is designated for a particular use.
It is broadly classified into areas suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial use, and within these areas, it is divided into 13 detailed areas.
Depending on the region, there are restrictions on the type of building, volume, etc.
This is because the objective is to make effective use of land by building buildings in accordance with regional restrictions.
In order to protect the surrounding environment and at the same time make it more convenient for companies and factories, it was considered effective to designate the zoning area.
The zoning area is a rule for effective use of land rather than the name of the region.
Without rules, it would be a difficult environment for both people and companies to live in, such as a large factory being built next to a detached house.
In addition, if a high condominium is built next to a single-family home, the daily life and the atmosphere will deteriorate, making it difficult for people to live in the home.
In this way, the purpose of the area is not to impair the ease of living, but also to maintain the natural environment and other efforts aimed at the sound development of cities.
If you have a specific land you are considering purchasing, check the details of the property to see which zoning district it is in.
If you don't have a specific plot of land in mind but want to know the zoning of the area you want to live in, you can check at the local government office.
Some municipalities post the information on their website, so it is good to check it out.
However, zoning does not necessarily apply to all areas.
According to the City Planning Law, the following three areas are subject to zoning.
Municipalization area

Areas that have already formed urban areas and areas that will be urbanized as a priority and in a planned manner within 10 years.
No-line zone
Areas that are not divided into urbanized areas and urbanization control areas.
Quasi-urban planning area
An area designated by the prefectural government where land use is restricted in areas outside the city planning area where urban development is expected to progress.

Find out in advance which areas the land you are considering purchasing is and determine in advance whether it meets your objectives.

What is residential zoning？

Let's take a closer look at residential zoning areas.
Residential zoning areas can be divided into the following eight categories:

Category I low-rise exclusive residential zones

It is easy to imagine a quiet residential area, where low-rise buildings are built.
Of the eight types of residential zones, this is the one with the strictest restrictions.
The height of buildings is limited to 12 meters, so it may not be possible to build a three-story house.
Housing that doubles as a store or office is also allowed, but the floor area of the store is limited to 50 square meters or less.
Apartments, low-rise condominiums, elementary and junior high schools, clinics, child welfare facilities, and welfare centers for the elderly can also be built.

Category II low-rise exclusive residential zone

This is about the same as the first category, but the second category is an area in which the floor space of the store can be built up to 150 square meters.
Convenience stores and restaurants are also included.

Category I middle-and high-rise exclusive residential district

This is an area where detached houses and condominiums can be built.
Since the height restriction is removed, it is possible to build houses with three or more floors.
Other than houses, educational facilities such as kindergartens, universities, and vocational schools can be built in addition to elementary and junior high schools.
Hospitals, restaurants, and supermarkets can also be built, although the floor area is limited to 500 square meters or less.
In addition, commercial facilities are restricted to two floors or less.

Category II middle-and high-rise exclusive residential zone

It is almost the same as Type 1.
However, stores and offices with a floor area of up to 1,500 square meters can be built, making it possible to build large supermarkets

Category I residential zone

Stores, offices, office buildings, hotels, and hospitals are allowed as long as there is no height restriction and the floor area is up to 3,000 square meters.
Factories can also be built as long as the floor area of the workshop is less than 50㎡.
However, amusement facilities such as pachinko parlors and karaoke boxes, as well as adult entertainment establishments, cannot be built.
This zoning district is often designated around small and medium-sized stations.

Category II residential zone

It is almost the same as the first type.
However, commercial facilities with floor space of up to 10,000 square meters can be built.
Unlike the first type, it is also possible to build pachinko halls and karaoke boxes.

Quasi-residential zone

There are more apartments than houses in this area.
Large warehouses with three or more floors, parking lots, theaters and movie theaters with seating areas of less than 200 square meters can be built.
Shopping malls and business offices can also be built.
It is often designated for residential areas along national highways and main roads.

Rural residential area

This is a new zoning district that was established in 2018 and aims to harmonize agriculture and residential areas, such as protecting an environment conducive to farming and a residential environment conducive to living.br> It also aims to try out new initiatives, such as agricultural restaurants and one-day farming experiences.
Of course, it is also possible to build warehouses for crops and agricultural production materials.
Agricultural restaurants, warehouses, etc. are restricted to 500 square meters or less.
Houses can be built according to the restrictions of low-rise residential areas.
If the land is designated as a rural residential area, there will be restrictions on land use, which must be fully explained at the time of sale.
In addition to houses and farmland, kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools, high schools, libraries, hospitals, and shrines can be built.

What are commercial and industrial zoning areas？

Finally, let's take a closer look at commercial and industrial zoning.
There are two types of commercial zoning districts and three types of industrial zoning districts.
Let's take a look at each in detail.

Neighborhood commercial zone

The floor area restrictions that were in place in semi-residential zones have been removed, allowing the construction of a variety of commercial facilities such as stores, offices, and movie theaters.
Factories with a floor area of 150 square meters or less, and automobile repair shops with a floor area of 300 square meters or less are also allowed, but only on the condition that there is no risk of danger or environmental degradation.
Residential buildings are mainly condominiums, and the area is favored by singles and working couples who value convenience.

Commercial zone

Less restrictive than neighborhood commercial areas, these areas are often designated for use around large stations in the city center.
Although it is not an area intended for living, high-rise condominiums are the main residences.
Rents can be high, but for those who seek convenience, this is the best area.
The advantage for companies is that there are not many restrictions.

Semi-industrial zone

This is an area where factories can be built, but there is also a mix of residential buildings, so factories that pose a risk to human health or the environment are not allowed.
In addition to factories, many commercial facilities, schools, and hotels can be built in the area.

Industrial zone

This is a zoning district that emphasizes industrial convenience.
Educational facilities such as hospitals and schools, hotels, and movie theaters are not allowed.
Residential buildings are mainly high-rise apartments and large condominiums.

Dedicated industrial zone

This is an industrial area where various factories are built.

Residential and commercial buildings are not allowed.
However, it is possible to build offices and clinics associated with factories.

In conclusion

In this article, we explained the purpose of zoning in land and the characteristics of each area.
There are three main types of zoning districts: residential, commercial, and factory, and within these, there are 13 detailed categories.
We learned that there are various restrictions depending on the use of the building depending on the zoning.
Since the living environment changes depending on the zoning, be sure to check the zoning when looking for land for housing.