In the case of recreation zones, a distinction is made between sports facilities, tennis courts, swimming pools or similar and allotment gardens.

While the construction of buildings that serve the operation of publicly accessible sports facilities is permitted, the restrictions on allotment gardens - or as they are popularly called "allotment gardens" - are usually much more restrictive with clear limitations on area and use. In the city of Zurich, for example, such a small house including a pergola may not be larger than 15 square metres, nor may people spend the night in it.

At the national level, a distinction is made between three zones: Building zones, agricultural zones and protection zones.

Cantonal law may provide for further use zones; for example, there are five types of zones in the canton of Zurich. In addition to recreation zones, building zones, agricultural zones, recreation zones and reserve zones are also defined and regulated as such.