Building Code

Exterior side view of a single-story brick home missing back half of roof and a debris pile in the front yard.

Commentary: We Need to Build for Disaster, Not Simply Focus on Recovery

As the frequency and severity of weather events increases, building codes need to be adjusted to include resilience principles.

January 4, 2024 - Route Fifty

The mangled remains of a residential tower after it collapsed in Florida.

Miami Herald: Collapsed Florida Residential Building Had Major Defects, Violated Code

The safety of Champlain Towers South was compromised to make more room for parking, according to an investigation by the Miami Herald in consultation with four engineers and a general contractor.

August 11, 2021 - Miami Herald

Chicago Harbor, City Skyline, Illinois

Comprehensive Building Code Update Approved in Chicago

Chicago's new building code is hailed as a major achievement for the city, labor unions, and the construction and development industries in the city.

April 12, 2019 - MAPS

111 West 57th St

Regulations on 'Mechanical Voids' in Luxury Residential Towers Coming Soon to NYC

The city is responding to controversies surrounding building practices that boost heights of luxury residential towers, while leaving big sections of the buildings empty.

January 24, 2019 - Crain's New York Business

Brooklyn Construction

False Construction Permits Go 'Unchecked' in New York

New York habitually lets property owners begin construction without disclosing that their buildings are rent-stabilized or occupied by tenants.

September 26, 2018 - Politico

Skinny Skyscraper

Regulating the Deliberate Emptiness of New York's Skyscrapers

Mechanical voids or stilts—whatever you call the trick of architecture that has been pressing the residential skyline in New York ever higher, the city is ready to regulate.

June 29, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Cross-Laminated Timber

Timber Industry 'Bracing' for Soaring Demand

Building with wood is back in fashion, but lumber producers have to reckon with thorny politics and new timber-based materials that have yet to be truly defined.

November 28, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Artists' Housing, Beyond the SoHo Loft Model

New York has promised to create 1,500 affordable live/work spaces for artists. Architect Emma Fuller believes that careful consideration of building typologies could make it easier to reach this target.

December 27, 2016 - Soft City

Supermarket

California’s Messy Code Hinders Housing and Climate Goals

It’s time to rewrite California’s building and planning codes for the 21st century, says architect Mark Hogan.

June 8, 2016 - BOOM: A Journal of California

Code Changes to Allow Tiny Houses Sought for Atlanta

An Atlanta City Councilmember and local advocates are pushing for the city to join the ranks of cities that have allowed tiny houses as a solution to housing challenges.

July 30, 2015 - Atlanta Magazine

Does Vancouver Ban Herald the Death of the Doorknob?

Amendments to Vancouver's building code adopted in September will require lever handles on all doors in newly built housing beginning next March. Could such code changes soon be adopted far and wide?

November 19, 2013 - The Vancouver Sun

NYC Building Code Gets Sandy-Inspired Rewrite

Last week, Mayor Bloomberg proposed sweeping changes to New York City's building code to better prepare the city's built environment for the increasing threats of rising seas and extreme storms that Hurricane Sandy made clear.

June 16, 2013 - The New York Times

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.