Kasutusalade

Kasutusalade are designated areas within a municipality's land-use plan that define what activities may take place and under what conditions. The concept aims to provide orderly development, balance housing, jobs, and services, and protect natural and cultural resources. Kasutusalade are typically described in planning documents such as a general plan or master plan and more detailed plans, and they are mapped in zoning maps color-coded to reflect different zones. Each zone sets permitted uses, restrictions on density and building form, setback rules, and infrastructure requirements.

Common categories include residential, mixed-use, commercial, industrial, agricultural, forestry, recreational/open space, transport and service corridors, and protected or environmental zones. Some plans also include special zones with particular rules for energy, tourism, or heritage protection. The rules in a zone determine what kind of development is allowed by-right and what may require additional approvals or variances.

Implementation and change: When land use or development goals change, authorities may revise kasutusalad through plan amendments, subject to statutory procedures and public participation. Building permits and project approvals must conform to the existing zones; non-conforming uses may be regulated and gradually phased out.

Note: The term is used primarily in Estonian planning language, but the general concept of land-use zoning exists in many countries under different terms. Local practice, terminology, and the exact categories vary by jurisdiction.