Essex, CT zoning districts
What each zoning code in Essex stands for, read from the town's own adopted regulations. Every parcel we list carries one of these codes; this is where you check what it permits.
Read Essex's zoning regulations
| Code | District | Type | Parcels | Opportunities | Our reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RU | Rural Residence Districtthe zone you clicked | Residential | 1,758 | 0 | Single Family |
| VR | Village Residence Districtthe zone you clicked | Residential | 980 | 0 | Single Family |
| C | Commercial Districtthe zone you clicked | Business | 184 | 0 | Unclear |
| RUM | Rural Residence – Multi-Family Districtthe zone you clicked | Residential | 132 | 0 | Single Family |
| RRR | River Road Residential Districtthe zone you clicked | Residential | 73 | 0 | Single Family |
| LI | Limited Industrial Districtthe zone you clicked | Industrial | 70 | 0 | Single Family |
| EV | Essex Village Districtthe zone you clicked | Mixed Use | 61 | 0 | Single Family |
| B | Business Districtthe zone you clicked | Business | 38 | 0 | Single Family |
| CONS. | Conservation Districtthe zone you clicked | Special | 32 | 0 | Single Family |
| AAC | Active Adult Community Districtthe zone you clicked | Residential | 27 | 0 | Unclear |
| WF | Waterfront Business Districtthe zone you clicked | Business | 15 | 0 | Unknown |
| RLC | Residential Life Care Districtthe zone you clicked | Residential | 13 | 0 | Unknown |
| MI | Municipal and Industrial Service Zonethe zone you clicked | Industrial | 6 | 0 | Unknown |
| L1 | —the zone you clicked | None | 2 | 0 | Unknown |
Our reading is derived from what is actually built in each district today, not from the code string — a code like R-15 means different things in different Connecticut towns. It is an estimate, and the regulations linked above are the authority.
Where these names come from
Read the town's own PDF: Essex Planning and Zoning Commission Zoning Regulations, cover page 'Effective January 30, 2026' (essexct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7456), Sec. 30A 'Districts' plus the numbered district sections (60–104), cross-checked against the Essex District Characteristic Chart updated 12/27/24. All 10 assessor codes matched: B is the Business District (Sec. 82) and AAC is the Active Adult Community District (Sec. 63-2) — both are omitted from the Sec. 30A list but defined in their own sections and shown on the chart. Essex also superimposes three overlay districts (Gateway Conservation, Coastal Management, Flood Plain) for which the ordinance assigns no abbreviation, so they are not listed here.