Building Codes
Op-Ed: Making Housing More Affordable Through Modular Construction
A relatively minor change to the federal government’s regulations on modular construction could bring down the cost of building and deploying modular housing to more communities facing housing shortages.
Chicago Looks to Boulder Landlord Registry as a Model for Tenant Protections
Unlike the Colorado city, where code violations in rental housing are quickly identified and fixed, Chicago lacks a robust system of inspection and enforcement.
California First in the Nation to Limit Embodied Carbon in Buildings
California’s Building Code accomplished a first-in-the-nation step to mitigate carbon emissions from the construction and maintenance of buildings, by limiting embodied carbon in some commercial and school buildings.
Rooftop Solar Hampered by New York City Fire Code
Requirements in the NYFD fire code make it costly and difficult to achieve the city’s solar installation goals.
How a Staircase Requirement Can Impact Housing Affordability
Critics of the double-staircase mandate for multi-story buildings argue that it does little to improve fire safety while raising the costs of housing construction and limiting community interaction.
Industry Continues to Push Back Against Carbon-Slashing Building Codes
The battle over the efficiencies and infrastructure required in building codes continues.
Colorado Springs Drafts New Regional Annexation Plan
A regional planning proposal in El Paso County, Colorado calls for uniform standards for unincorporated developments, which would make it easier to receive city services if annexed in the future.
Industry Wins a Round Over Building Efficiency Requirements
New regulations prohibit cities from enacting stricter efficiency standards in new buildings.
Los Angeles Streamlines ADU Permits with High-Design Templates
Los Angeles' ADU Standard Plan Program will offer homeowners a set of pre-approved designs that will save them time and money.
Seattle Limits Natural Gas in New Construction
More cities are banning the use of natural gas in new buildings. Seattle is the latest example.
Adapting Building Codes to Natural Disasters Saves Billions
New research shows that modern building codes have prevented around $27 billion in damage from natural disasters between 2000 and 2016, yet many cities still operate under decades-old regulations.
Code Enforcement as Coronavirus Response Policy
The Center for Community progress offers advice on effective code enforcement during a time of extreme economic duress.
States Mandating Housing Deregulation
Housing deregulation for the sake of housing affordability made progress in both Democratic- and Republican-led states last year.
Height Limits, Roof Deck Ban Killed by Philly Planning Commission's Pocket Veto
The Philadelphia City Planning Commission made a "rare how of power" in using a variety of "pocket veto" to kill proposed height and roof deck restrictions in the Far Northeast section of Philadelphia.
New York Largest U.S. City to Require Bird-Friendly Building Materials
The New York City Council approved Proposed Initiative 1482B by an overwhelming margin, ensuring bird-friendly design and construction practices in the largest U.S. city.
A New Kind of Planning Controversy: the Emoji House
A complaint about an illegal Airbnb, a very visual response, and a headache for city officials in the city of Manhattan Beach, California.
Texas Preempts Local Rules on Building Materials
Local governments didn't want the Texas State Legislature to approved HB 2439, but now the bill is officially law. Some communities worry that they can no longer control the aesthetics of new development.
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.
The Lincoln Park Story
In The Battle of Lincoln Park, Daniel Kay Hertz chronicles the gentrification of Lincoln Park, and shows how its residents displaced renters and the poor.
After Michael: Updating Florida's Building Code to Better Weather Future Storms
Code requirements for wind resistance vary substantially across Florida, with less stringent building requirements in areas of the Panhandle hit hard by Hurricane Michael.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
