Zoning Codes

Rental Apartments

What Zoning Can and Can't Do

The powers, and the limitations, of zooming are explained in a series of posts on Greater Greater Washington.

January 8, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

Nuisance Sign

The Rise of the NIMBY Movement, and How Homeowners Came to Own the Whole Neighborhood

The history of how homeowners came to wield expansive power over the development of entire neighborhoods and cities is complex and can't be traced to any one policy or market trend.

January 4, 2018 - The New York Times

New Mexico

Albuquerque Overhauls its Zoning Code for the First Time Since the 1970s

Albuquerque has approved the new Integrated Development Ordinance.

November 27, 2017 - Albuquerque Journal

Texas State Capital

Texas Bill Would Immunize Property Rights From Zoning Code Changes

The Texas Legislature and executive branch is continuing to wage a battle against local control, this time pursuing a land use law that would undermine zoning code changes, such as the current CodeNEXT process in Austin.

July 25, 2017 - Austin American-Statesman

Grand Central

Controversy Follows Proposed Midtown East Plan

A very public spat over proposed Midtown East plan took place in the pages of Crain's this week.

July 21, 2017 - Crain's Business New York

Chicago Harbor, City Skyline, Illinois

Mapping Chicago's Zoning Code Changes

A new interactive map feature launched by the Chicago Cityscape website maps all the zoning changes up for approval around the city.

May 22, 2017 - Chicago Cityscape

Parking

Reduced and More Accurate Parking Requirements

For each dollar motorists spend on their vehicles somebody spends more than a dollar to park it. To reduce these costs many jurisdictions are eliminating or reducing parking requirements and encouraging more efficient parking management. You can too!

April 24, 2017 - Todd Litman

D.C. Zoning Code Change Will Further Limit Rear Additions

In a move that will restrict the building envelope of residential properties, the Washington, D.C. Zoning Commission approved limitations to the construction of rear additions.

April 18, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Manhattan

To Inspire New Development, New York Rethinking its Shadow-Predicting Formula

The New York Department of City Planning is considering changes to a formula used to model the shadows cast by potential developments as part of its Midtown East rezoning plan.

March 11, 2017 - Crain's New York Business

Albany, New York, Putting Finishing Touches on Comprehensive Zoning Reform

Earlier this week, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan sent a draft of the city's new Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance to the city's Common Council.

March 9, 2017 - Politico New York

Austin Pedestrians

First Draft of Austin's New CodeNext Zoning Code Released

It was a big day for planners and planning in Austin earlier this week, when the city released the 1,100-page first draft of the city's new zoning code—the first major revision of the city's zoning doe since the mid-1980s.

February 3, 2017 - Community Impact Newspaper

Grand Central

Rezoning Begins in Earnest in Manhattan's East Midtown

The aspiration for a forthcoming Uniform Land Use Review Procedure for East Midtown Manhattan is nothing short of returning the neighborhood to central business district status.

January 3, 2017 - New York Post

Bromo Seltzer Tower Baltimore

Baltimore's New Zoning Code Almost a Done Deal

The Baltimore City Council granted initial approval for the city's first zoning code overhaul in over 40 years.

October 27, 2016 - The Baltimore Sun

Washington D.C.

Mapping Washington, D.C.'s New Zoning Code

After years of planning, Washington, D.C. this year adopted a new zoning code. With new maps from the District Office of Zoning, you can see for yourself what the city's new land use regulation regime looks like.

October 26, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Charlottesville, Virginia

Form Based Codes: Nashville Provides a Model for Charlottesville's Process

As Charlottesville, Virginia considers a new form-based code, the city of Nashville offers explanations and examples of the concept in action.

September 26, 2016 - Charlottesville Tomorrow

Detroit Street Art

Detroit to Explore 'Pink Zoning' to Reduce Red Tape

Detroit is looking for ideas to make it easier to revitalize neighborhood main streets.

August 12, 2016 - The Detroit News

New York City Zoning Map

100 Years Ago Today: The City of New York Adopts its First Zoning Code

On July 25, 1916, New York adopted its first Zoning Resolution, for the first time regulating the height, size and arrangement of buildings in the city.

July 25, 2016 - The New York Times

Stockton Foreclosure

Study: Land Use Regulation Restricts Housing Supply

A new paper studies the impacts both of specific land use regulations and land use regulations in the aggregate.

July 21, 2016 - Market Urbanism

Chattanooga

Chattanooga Approves New Form-Based Code for Downtown

Chattanooga is the latest city to apply the form-based code methodology to a specific area of the city, including downtown and adjacent neighborhoods.

June 30, 2016 - Times Free Press

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Moves Zoning Reform Bill Forward

An update to the state's zoning laws—the first update of its kind since 1975—is moving forward through the Massachusetts Legislature.

June 11, 2016 - Urban Liberty

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.