Select and zoom to features in ArcMap

select_and_zoom.py

# import modules
import arcpy

def select_zoom(layer, sql):
    """
    Select from the current map document, a feature in a layer and zoom to the specified feature.
    """
    # select by attributes enforcing new selection method to clear any previous selections
    SelectLayerByAttribute_management(in_layer_or_view=layer, 
                                       selection_type='NEW_SELECTION', 
                                       where_clause=sql)
                                       
    # identify the current map document
    mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument('CURRENT')
    
    # identify the data frame
    df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)[0]
    
    # use the zoom to selected features method of the data frame to update the extent
    df.zoomToSelectedFeatures ()