diff --git a/pcbnew/zone.cpp b/pcbnew/zone.cpp
index da0316049a..9cc73e91a0 100644
--- a/pcbnew/zone.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/zone.cpp
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@ void ZONE::InitDataFromSrcInCopyCtor( const ZONE& aZone )
     m_zoneName                = aZone.m_zoneName;
     m_priority                = aZone.m_priority;
     m_isRuleArea              = aZone.m_isRuleArea;
+    m_ruleAreaExpression = aZone.m_ruleAreaExpression;
+    m_ruleAreaType = aZone.m_ruleAreaType;
     SetLayerSet( aZone.GetLayerSet() );
 
     m_doNotAllowCopperPour    = aZone.m_doNotAllowCopperPour;
@@ -550,6 +552,7 @@ void ZONE::GetMsgPanelInfo( EDA_DRAW_FRAME* aFrame, std::vector<MSG_PANEL_ITEM>&
     {
         msg.Empty();
 
+// fixme placement
         if( GetDoNotAllowVias() )
             AccumulateDescription( msg, _( "No vias" ) );
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/zone.h b/pcbnew/zone.h
index 27f7310be7..613e5860c5 100644
--- a/pcbnew/zone.h
+++ b/pcbnew/zone.h
@@ -709,6 +709,8 @@ public:
      * Accessors to parameters used in Rule Area zones:
      */
     bool GetIsRuleArea() const           { return m_isRuleArea; }
+    RULE_AREA_TYPE GetRuleAreaType() const { return m_ruleAreaType; }
+    const wxString& GetRuleAreaExpression( ) const { return m_ruleAreaExpression; }
     bool GetDoNotAllowCopperPour() const { return m_doNotAllowCopperPour; }
     bool GetDoNotAllowVias() const       { return m_doNotAllowVias; }
     bool GetDoNotAllowTracks() const     { return m_doNotAllowTracks; }
@@ -716,6 +718,8 @@ public:
     bool GetDoNotAllowFootprints() const { return m_doNotAllowFootprints; }
 
     void SetIsRuleArea( bool aEnable )           { m_isRuleArea = aEnable; }
+    void SetRuleAreaType( RULE_AREA_TYPE aType ) { m_ruleAreaType = aType; }
+    void SetRuleAreaExpression( const wxString& aExpr ) { m_ruleAreaExpression = aExpr; }
     void SetDoNotAllowCopperPour( bool aEnable ) { m_doNotAllowCopperPour = aEnable; }
     void SetDoNotAllowVias( bool aEnable )       { m_doNotAllowVias = aEnable; }
     void SetDoNotAllowTracks( bool aEnable )     { m_doNotAllowTracks = aEnable; }
@@ -824,6 +828,8 @@ protected:
      * It will be never filled, and DRC should test for pads, tracks and vias
      */
     bool m_isRuleArea;
+    RULE_AREA_TYPE        m_ruleAreaType;
+    wxString m_ruleAreaExpression;
 
     /* A zone outline can be a teardrop zone with different rules for priority
      * (always bigger priority than copper zones) and never removed from a
diff --git a/pcbnew/zone_settings.cpp b/pcbnew/zone_settings.cpp
index 2b8ea9b6e6..36f8ff035a 100644
--- a/pcbnew/zone_settings.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/zone_settings.cpp
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ ZONE_SETTINGS::ZONE_SETTINGS()
     SetDoNotAllowFootprints( false );
 
     m_TeardropType = TEARDROP_TYPE::TD_NONE;
+    m_ruleAreaType = RULE_AREA_TYPE::KEEPOUT; // for backwards compatibility
 }
 
 
@@ -152,6 +153,8 @@ ZONE_SETTINGS& ZONE_SETTINGS::operator << ( const ZONE& aSource )
     m_cornerSmoothingType         = aSource.GetCornerSmoothingType();
     m_cornerRadius                = aSource.GetCornerRadius();
     m_isRuleArea                  = aSource.GetIsRuleArea();
+    m_ruleAreaExpression = aSource.GetRuleAreaExpression();
+    m_ruleAreaType = aSource.GetRuleAreaType();
     m_keepoutDoNotAllowCopperPour = aSource.GetDoNotAllowCopperPour();
     m_keepoutDoNotAllowVias       = aSource.GetDoNotAllowVias();
     m_keepoutDoNotAllowTracks     = aSource.GetDoNotAllowTracks();
@@ -190,6 +193,8 @@ void ZONE_SETTINGS::ExportSetting( ZONE& aTarget, bool aFullExport ) const
     aTarget.SetCornerSmoothingType( m_cornerSmoothingType );
     aTarget.SetCornerRadius( m_cornerRadius );
     aTarget.SetIsRuleArea( GetIsRuleArea() );
+    aTarget.SetRuleAreaType( GetRuleAreaType() );
+    aTarget.SetRuleAreaExpression( GetRuleAreaExpression() );
     aTarget.SetDoNotAllowCopperPour( GetDoNotAllowCopperPour() );
     aTarget.SetDoNotAllowVias( GetDoNotAllowVias() );
     aTarget.SetDoNotAllowTracks( GetDoNotAllowTracks() );
diff --git a/pcbnew/zone_settings.h b/pcbnew/zone_settings.h
index aabc1df095..bf759d438b 100644
--- a/pcbnew/zone_settings.h
+++ b/pcbnew/zone_settings.h
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ enum class ISLAND_REMOVAL_MODE
     AREA
 };
 
+enum class RULE_AREA_TYPE
+{
+    KEEPOUT = 0,
+    PLACEMENT
+};
+
 /**
  * ZONE_SETTINGS
  * handles zones parameters.
@@ -125,11 +131,14 @@ private:
      */
     bool m_isRuleArea;
 
+    RULE_AREA_TYPE m_ruleAreaType;
+
     bool            m_keepoutDoNotAllowCopperPour;
     bool            m_keepoutDoNotAllowVias;
     bool            m_keepoutDoNotAllowTracks;
     bool            m_keepoutDoNotAllowPads;
     bool            m_keepoutDoNotAllowFootprints;
+    wxString            m_ruleAreaExpression;
 
     ISLAND_REMOVAL_MODE m_removeIslands;
     long long int       m_minIslandArea;
@@ -187,6 +196,8 @@ public:
      * Accessors to parameters used in Rule Area zones:
      */
     bool GetIsRuleArea() const { return m_isRuleArea; }
+    RULE_AREA_TYPE GetRuleAreaType() const { return m_ruleAreaType; }
+    const wxString& GetRuleAreaExpression( ) const { return m_ruleAreaExpression; }
     bool GetDoNotAllowCopperPour() const { return m_keepoutDoNotAllowCopperPour; }
     bool GetDoNotAllowVias() const { return m_keepoutDoNotAllowVias; }
     bool GetDoNotAllowTracks() const { return m_keepoutDoNotAllowTracks; }
@@ -194,6 +205,8 @@ public:
     bool GetDoNotAllowFootprints() const { return m_keepoutDoNotAllowFootprints; }
 
     void SetIsRuleArea( bool aEnable ) { m_isRuleArea = aEnable; }
+    void SetRuleAreaType( RULE_AREA_TYPE aType ) { m_ruleAreaType = aType; }
+    void SetRuleAreaExpression( const wxString& aExpr ) { m_ruleAreaExpression = aExpr; }
     void SetDoNotAllowCopperPour( bool aEnable ) { m_keepoutDoNotAllowCopperPour = aEnable; }
     void SetDoNotAllowVias( bool aEnable ) { m_keepoutDoNotAllowVias = aEnable; }
     void SetDoNotAllowTracks( bool aEnable ) { m_keepoutDoNotAllowTracks = aEnable; }