The Zoning records deal with a wide variety of land use issues in Seattle and the City's comprehensive planning. The records document the planning for a project approach to zoning that broke the process into relatively manageable categories. These included individual zoning projects based on specific use of the land, thus focusing on major institutions, single family land use zones, multi-family land use zones, and neighborhood commercial areas.

In addition, these records deal with issues of annexation, parking, moorages, adults-only theater controls, skybridges, code interpretations, sign regulations, and street vacations. Also documented is the Citizen's Alternative Plan, a successful citizen initiative to restrict the height of new buildings constructed in the downtown area.