In the title coordination polymer, [Zn(C(8)H(4)O(5))(C(14)H(22)N(4))](n), the Zn(II) cation is coordinated by an O(2)N(2) donor set in a distorted tetra-hedral geometry. The Zn(II) ions are linked by μ(2)-OH-bdc (OH-H(2)bdc = 5-hy-droxy-isophthalic acid) and bbie ligands [bbie = 2,2'-diethyl-1,1'-(butane-1,4-di-yl)diimidazole], forming a two-dimensional layer parallel to the ab plane. The layers are further connected through intermolecular C-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular structure. In the bbie ligand, the two C atoms in the ethyl group are each disordered over two positions with a site-occupancy ratio of 0.69:0.31.