Form-Based Code

Wynyard Quarter

Code Score: A New Aid for Aligning Policy and Vision With Outcomes

A compendium of benefits of walkable urban places, put together by Hazel Borys and Kaid Benfield.

October 2, 2019 - PlaceShakers

Birmingham, Michigan

Code Hackathon: What Can Go Wrong With Form-Based Codes?

Top problems with form-based codes, and how to fix them.

May 16, 2019 - PlaceShakers

A New Path to Code Reform

The Users’ Guide to Code Reform leads planners through the code reform process, providing tools for governments lacking the capacity to develop a full form-based code. Susan Henderson and Matt Lambert hit the high points.

February 6, 2019 - PlaceShakers

Birmingham, Michigan

'The Users' Guide to Zoning Reform' Published by the Congress for New Urbanism

The Congress for New Urbanism's Users' "Guide to Code Reform" leads planners through the code reform process, providing tools for governments lacking the capacity to develop a full form-based code.

October 2, 2018 - Public Square: A CNU Journal

New Hampshire

Concord, New Hampshire to Draft a Form-Based Code

Concord will become the latest city to add a form-based code to its menu of development regulations.

January 30, 2018 - Concord Monitor

Forest Park Southeast

A Form-Based Code Arrives in St. Louis

The Forest Park Southeast neighborhood in St. Louis has completed a years-long planning process—the result is a new form-based code.

November 8, 2017 - nextSTL

Ventura County

Preserving the Rural Landscape with Agrarian Urbanism

We don't usually think zoning when considering farmland preservation, but Hazel Borys shares are a few thoughts that may help.

July 28, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Austin Neighborhood Objects to Proposed Transect Zone

The CodeNext project of updating the city of Austin's zoning code and land use policies has faced a controversial and protracted period of public scrutiny. The Allandale neighborhood provides a case study.

July 19, 2017 - Austin American-Statesman

Seattle

CNU 25 Seattle: Highlights from the Silver Anniversary

A summary of last week's events in Seattle: CNU 25 and ULI, written by Hazel Borys.

May 10, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Miami

Codes Study: Trends in Zoning Reform

The Codes Study is updated! These are the cities that are rewriting their land use laws to promote wellness, economic strength, and environmental resilience.

February 16, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Extracting the DNA of the Most Loved Places

The first step of character-based zoning is extracting local DNA. Hazel Borys reviews Tucson's highlights for Sonoran Desert inspiration.

November 22, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Why Can't My Zoning Create a Diversity of Places?

Struggling with zoning that thwarts the construction of new hamlets, villages, towns, and cities? Susan Henderson has a bit of place type inspiration from across the pond.

October 18, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Meet the New 'Lean Code Tool'

Susan Henderson investigates ‪Lean Urbanism‬ strategies for incremental code reform to improve walkability and reduce financial and regulatory burdens in a manner that matches local capacity.

May 3, 2016 - PlaceShakers

The Codes Study Is Updated

618 form-based codes made it on the latest Codes Study. The authors are requesting your additions to the update.

March 30, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Plymouth Avenue Bridge

Walkable Winter Cities: Feasibility While Freezing

"It's too cold to walk here" is often the response to the subject of livability in northern climes. Hazel Borys hails from the third coldest city of its size on earth and talks walkable winter cities.

January 6, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Coding for Character: Doing Away With the Zoned Out Nature of Cities

What's keeping the historic parts of your city or town from staying up-to-date and well-loved? Usually, the laws.

October 6, 2015 - PlaceShakers

The Plaza: What Makes a Community Living Room?

The Plaza can behave as the community living room. Why is this so hard to get right in post-WWII U.S.?

June 3, 2015 - PlaceShakers

'Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.'—the DNA of Urban Succession

Don't design for the climax condition if today's marketplace supports something less—and other urban succession ideas.

April 14, 2015 - PlaceShakers

SimCity BuildIt

3 Good Reasons SimCity Should Adopt a Form-Based Code

And an update from Codes Study about the 600 places that really are upping their game with form-based codes.

January 27, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Berlin Playborhood

Berliner Kinder: Berlin and its 'Playborhoods'

Are you thinking about playborhoods, playsheds, and free-range kids? Berlin's Kolle 37 hits it out of the park. Literally.

November 14, 2014 - PlaceShakers

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.