FOUND ANSWER
Solution was to create a new zone without the size
Then I could copy the style and inject it onto the old one.
This is reproducible here. If I create a zone with the square foot label - it sticks can cannot be removed.
Either inject from a good label or redo.
Eric Milberger, Architect | Master Planner
Archicad 25
AecoSim
Microstation
Windows 10 64bit
Remote - i7-8550U CPU @ 1.80GHz, 2001 Mhz, 4 Core
Office - Processor i7-8700K CPU @ 3.70GHz, 3696 Mhz, 6 Core