By dropping in at your local zoning office, city hall, or some other local planning board and asking for a copy of your local ordinance. Zoning ordinances and zoning maps are public records. In some localities, if you have a legal description of the property (name, address, tax map and parcel number), you can phone the appropriate zoning department or city hall or e-mail your request for information. Some communities have their zoning maps and their zoning ordinances online and in local libraries.