A zoning plan is a spatial plan map with associated provisions that determine use, multiple use and conservation in specific areas, and which forms a basis for clarification of which can building and construction measures can be implemented in the plan area.

The municipal council must ensure that zoning plans are compiled in the areas of the municipality where this is required by law or by the municipal plant's spatial element, and where there is otherwise a need to secure proper plan clarification and implementation of building and construction measures, multiple use and conservation in relation to relevant private and public interests.

Zoning plans are required for implementation of major building and construction measures and other measures that may have significant impact on the environment and the community.

Zoning plans can be compiled as area zoning for a larger area or as detailed zoning for individual measures or smaller areas. The government may adopt a governmental zoning plan if so dictated by important governmental regional interests. Private individuals have the right to put forward suggestions for detailed zoning.

The dataset is generated from the nationwide copy of zoning plans. This is kept updated with data from the original plan data at the municipalities. Updating takes place by means of periodic copying from the municipalities' data or synchronisation.