The Comprehensive Plan sets the overall land uses for Hillsborough County, and the County's Future Land Use Map serves as the framework for efficient uses of land in the community. Zoning is a land use control which further protects property owners from undesirable and incompatible land uses in neighborhoods.

Zoning and land development regulations provide a body of principles and standards adopted by the Board of County Commissioners as a local law or ordinance which regulate property owners. They regulate appropriate land uses allowed in the community, density of development, appearance of development, and the related infrastructure which supports development, including the provision of water, sewer, transportation, parks, storm water, and protection of natural resources such as trees and wildlife.

Also used is the Official Zoning Atlas, or Zoning Map that designates a zoning classification for each piece of property in the county. The Land Development Code (LDC) defines the standards for development of property and describes permitted uses for each of the districts shown on the Zoning Atlas.