The solvothermal reaction of Zn(OAc)(2)·2H(2)O with 3,3'-(diazenediyl)dibenzoic acid (H(2)ADB) in H(2)O at 393 K afforded the title complex, [Zn(C(14)H(8)N(2)O(4))(H(2)O)](n). The asymmetric unit contains half a Zn(II) cation, half an ADB ligand and half a water molecule. Each Zn(II) centre lies on a crystallographic twofold rotation axis and is five-coordinated by four O atoms of bridging carboxylate groups from four ADB ligands and one O atom from a water molecule, forming a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordination geometry. The [Zn(H(2)O)] subunits are bridged by carboxylate groups to give one-dimensional [Zn(μ-COO)(4)(H(2)O)](n) chains. The chains are linked by ADB ligands into two-dimensional sheets, and these sheets are further connected to neighbouring sheets via hydrogen bonds (OW-HW...O), forming a three-dimensional hydrogen-bond-stabilized structure with an unprecedented 3(7)4(17)5(2)6(2) topology.