Duties of the Landlord and Tenant in Residential Property
The landlord owes the tenant several duties, including:

◾Habitability: The landlord guarantees the property is habitable, which means it is in good shape by regularly maintaining the property and repairing any problems that arise  - also known as an "implied warranty of habitability".

◾Ordinances: The landlord guarantees the property conforms to city and state laws

As a tenant you must:
◾Pay rent on time
◾Adhere to your lease's restrictions (i.e. no pets, no nuisance, etc.) Failing to fulfill these duties could result in eviction

Does My Property Have to Conform to Local Zoning Ordinances?
Most localities have a Planning or Zoning committee that regulates land use. When this committee passes a zoning ordinance, all properties in the locality must follow them unless one of the following exceptions applies:

◾Variance: You can apply for a variance, which means that your property would be excused from conforming to the ordinance. The zoning committee has discretion over whether or not the variance will be granted.

◾Non-Conforming Use: New zoning laws do not affect existing buildings. So a building that predates the new zoning law is a non-conforming use of the land and does not need to be changed.