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Step 1
Attend zoning board meetings in your city to help in your study of zoning issues. You can listen to arguments made by board members and property owners to become comfortable using zoning terminology.
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Step 2
View the creation of zoning laws in your community by spending time in city-council meetings. Your study of zoning theories can be brought to life by listening to council members speak about issues specific to your community.
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Step 3
Locate seminars and public courses on zoning laws at your local technical college. Technical colleges help train building inspectors and contractors in practical applications of zoning principles.
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Step 4
Study Euclidean and incentive-based zoning laws at a public university. Most public universities offer continuing-education courses in the theory of urban development, helping the general public understand the actions of local government.
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Step 5
Consult with a building inspector to get a quick lesson on zoning laws while she looks at new construction on your property. Most building inspectors are interested in helping property owners stay compliant with laws. You should focus your questions on clarifying codes that seem to conflict with one another.
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Step 6
Utilize initial consultations with a zoning lawyer to aid your study of zoning laws. Your study of setbacks, green space and tax incremental financing (TIF) is incomplete if you do not understand the penalties and enforcement of zoning codes.
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Step 7
Test yourself frequently on the definition and diversity of zoned properties. Your desire to learn the complexities of local zoning laws can be fulfilled with a review of general definitions for commercial, residential and industrial zoning.
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Step 8
Assist your study of current zoning laws by looking into the city's past to gauge the growth of zoning concerns over time. You can likely find zoning documents and meeting minutes at a local university library, enabling you to trace the evolution of zoning.
