Planning Without Zoning: The Houston Story

William Fulton details the realities of land use in Houston, or, as Fulton describes it, "the largest city in the country with no zoning."

Houston is the fourth-largest city in America, with a population of 2.3 million people spread across more than 600 square miles. It contains some of the densest job centers and ritziest residential neighborhoods in the country. Yet three times in the last century — most recently in 1993 — Houstonians have voted down that most elemental of planning policies, zoning based on use. It's the first thing any planner — indeed, almost any person — asks about when they ask about Houston.

The key distinction Fulton teases out here, is that just because there is no zoning, doesn't mean there is also no planning in Houston. Houston has a frustrating development code, according to Fulton—and even zoning, in its own unique way.

"In reality, Houston is a big mixture of ordinances, policies, tactics by neighborhoods, and independent efforts by nonprofits, all of which play a role in determining how land is used," explains Fulton. "The city is rife with plans, strategies, and other efforts to create more walkability, bring new investment into historically underserved communities, and protect the city against future flooding and other hazards."

Fulton pinpoints planning in Houston to three key efforts, each with a lot more detail provided in the source article: 1) planning for the public realm, 2) planning tools for zoning workarounds, and 3) a market-driven development code.