A zoning ordinance is a government designation that determines the legal requirements for houses or buildings in a certain zone or area. Certain areas are designated for commercial purpose and other areas are zoned as residential. The zoning ordinance must be followed by law. Any breaches in zoning ordinances usually result in the removal of the breach by moving the building or changing its use.
It is illegal to operate a commercial premises out of an area zoned for residential use and if a business is caught doing so, it is fined and forced to move premises or close down.