wex definitions

Zero tape (also called a zero report) refers to a file produced by electronic voter machines which show that the machine has no votes tallied at the beginning of an election. Many states require poll workers to retrieve a zero tape before counting votes, ensuring the machines are starting the counts at zero. This allows states to compare numbers from the zero-tape and final vote tallies for each machine in case an error arises or just to fulfill state-mandated audits of election results.

The zone of danger rule is a legal doctrine in tort law that limits the liability of persons accused of negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED).

The zone of interests is a legal concept used to determine whether a particular plaintiff has standing to bring a lawsuit. It refers to the range of interests or concerns that a law or regulation, whether a constitutional provision or legislative statute, is intended to protect.

Zoning is a legislative act dividing a jurisdiction's land into sections and regulating different land uses in each section in accordance with a zoning ordinance. While zoning was originally conceived to protect industrial use of land, today it more broadly controls land use to protect value of land and objectives beyond industrial development.

• land use law

A zoning ordinance is a municipal law that outlines permitted uses for various sections of land. Thus, some lands may be dedicated to industrial use, while others may be set aside for residential or commercial use only. A zoning ordinance may also regulate building height, restrict sound, or require open space.