diff --git a/content/help/zones.toml b/content/help/zones.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bcefbce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/content/help/zones.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+name = "zones"
+title = "zones"
+admin = true
+body = """
+  zones are spatial containers - rooms, dungeons, overworld areas.
+  each zone has a terrain grid, spawn point, and optional portals.
+
+  listing zones
+    @zones              list all registered zones
+
+  navigating
+    @goto <zone>        teleport to a zone's spawn point
+    enter <portal>      step through a portal to another zone
+
+  building
+    @dig <name> <w> <h> create a new blank zone
+    @paint              toggle paint mode for terrain editing
+    @save               save current zone to file
+
+  see: @zones, @goto, @dig, @paint, @save
+"""
diff --git a/src/mudlib/commands/help.py b/src/mudlib/commands/help.py
index 9b08534..c80e446 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/commands/help.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/commands/help.py
@@ -357,30 +357,6 @@ async def cmd_client(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
     await player.send("\r\n".join(lines) + "\r\n")
 
 
-async def cmd_zones_help(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
-    """Show the zones guide."""
-    lines = [
-        "zones",
-        "  zones are spatial containers - rooms, dungeons, overworld areas.",
-        "  each zone has a terrain grid, spawn point, and optional portals.",
-        "",
-        "  listing zones",
-        "    @zones              list all registered zones",
-        "",
-        "  navigating",
-        "    @goto <zone>        teleport to a zone's spawn point",
-        "    enter <portal>      step through a portal to another zone",
-        "",
-        "  building",
-        "    @dig <name> <w> <h> create a new blank zone",
-        "    @paint              toggle paint mode for terrain editing",
-        "    @save               save current zone to file",
-        "",
-        "  see: @zones, @goto, @dig, @paint, @save",
-    ]
-    await player.send("\r\n".join(lines) + "\r\n")
-
-
 # Register the commands command
 register(
     CommandDefinition(
@@ -414,18 +390,6 @@ register(
     )
 )
 
-# Register the zones help topic
-register(
-    CommandDefinition(
-        "zones",
-        cmd_zones_help,
-        mode="*",
-        hidden=True,
-        admin=True,
-        help="zone building guide",
-    )
-)
-
 
 async def cmd_help(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
     """Show help for a command or skill.
diff --git a/tests/test_help_command.py b/tests/test_help_command.py
index 2dd3119..cbf12c7 100644
--- a/tests/test_help_command.py
+++ b/tests/test_help_command.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ from mudlib.commands import (
     look,  # noqa: F401
     movement,  # noqa: F401
 )
+from mudlib.commands.help import _help_topics
+from mudlib.content import load_help_topics
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -43,6 +45,19 @@ def admin_player(mock_reader, mock_writer):
     return p
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _load_zones_topic():
+    """Load the zones help topic for tests that need it."""
+    from pathlib import Path
+
+    help_dir = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1] / "content" / "help"
+    if help_dir.exists():
+        loaded = load_help_topics(help_dir)
+        _help_topics.update(loaded)
+    yield
+    _help_topics.clear()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_help_command_is_registered():
     """The help command should be registered in the command registry."""
@@ -117,9 +132,6 @@ async def test_help_zones_shows_see_also(admin_player):
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_help_zones_requires_admin(player):
     """Non-admin players cannot see admin help topics."""
-    # Import build to ensure @zones help topic is registered
-    from mudlib.commands import build  # noqa: F401
-
     await commands.dispatch(player, "help zones")
     output = "".join([call[0][0] for call in player.writer.write.call_args_list])
     assert "unknown" in output.lower()
diff --git a/tests/test_help_topics.py b/tests/test_help_topics.py
index af89eed..2e601b3 100644
--- a/tests/test_help_topics.py
+++ b/tests/test_help_topics.py
@@ -144,3 +144,13 @@ async def test_help_admin_topic_visible_to_admins(admin_player):
     await commands.dispatch(admin_player, "help secret")
     output = "".join(c[0][0] for c in admin_player.writer.write.call_args_list)
     assert "hidden" in output
+
+
+def test_zones_toml_loads_from_content():
+    from pathlib import Path
+
+    help_dir = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1] / "content" / "help"
+    topics = load_help_topics(help_dir)
+    assert "zones" in topics
+    assert topics["zones"].admin is True
+    assert "@zones" in topics["zones"].body