Zoning

‘Emergent City’ Documentary Highlights Rare Anti-Gentrification Victory
The film charts the saga of a Brooklyn site called Industry City.

How Zoning Affects Greenhouse Gas Emissions
As the urgency of the climate crisis increases, a paper in the Notre Dame Law Review argues that increased density is not a universally effective strategy to reduce emissions and that different strategies are needed for low-carbon places versus high-carbon ones.

Connecticut Cities Slow to Submit Affordable Housing Plans
Per a 2017 state law, all cities and towns must submit plans for providing enough housing in their jurisdictions, but a lack of clarity and enforcement mechanisms gives the law little real power.

Vermont Land Use Case Could Go to Supreme Court
Property owners argue that a new law protecting wildlife corridors amounts to an unconstitutional taking of property.

Arizona Legalizes ADUs and Higher Downtown Density Statewide
Two new laws require cities to permit ‘missing middle housing’ near city centers and ADUs on all single-family lots.

Vermont Issues Missing Middle Housing Toolkit
The state wants to encourage mid-density development to ease the housing crisis and provide a wider variety of housing options for residents.

Is a Taco a Sandwich? It Depends on Your City’s Zoning Laws
A land use dispute in Indiana points to broader questions about zoning and property rights.

A Comic Book About Housing
In ‘Build, Baby, Build,’ economist Bryan Caplan makes the case for zoning deregulation in a graphic novel format.

Austin Reduces Minimum Lot Size
Smaller lot sizes for single-family homes can make construction more affordable and homeownership available to more households.

Minneapolis 2040 Plan Could Proceed Under New Law
A state law awaiting the governor’s signature could exempt comprehensive plans from environmental review, freeing the plan from recent lawsuits.

Rural New York Explores Creative Housing Solutions
Rural communities and small cities are implementing affordable housing solutions at the local level, while the state budget prioritizes urban areas.

Ohio Towns Move to Ban New Car Washes
City officials in northeast Ohio are putting limits on how many car wash facilities can open in their towns.

A Look at Milwaukee’s Proposed Zoning Reform
The proposed changes would permit more flexible housing development while limiting changes in historic neighborhoods and on smaller streets.

Cities Prepare to Regulate Air Taxis
If the technology takes off, city officials will need to step into the world of aviation rules to ensure safety and limit environmental impact.

Columbus Zoning Reform Proposal Garners Varied Responses
Proponents of a new zoning designation say it will ease the housing crisis, while other residents worry about density, historic resources, and property taxes.

Palm Beach County Accused of ‘Rural Gentrification’ in Lawsuit
A new zoning ordinance banning semi-trucks from a rural unincorporated area of Palm Beach County has prompted long-time semi-driver residents to sue for the right to continue to park their vehicles on their properties.

Faith-Based Housing Brings Light Density With Less Resistance
The ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ movement brings together powerful partners to develop housing in areas where development might otherwise encounter opposition.

Preserving, Restoring, and Revitalizing Juneau's Downtown
For the past six years, a commission of Juneau, Alaska, residents has examined every aspect of downtown and created Blueprint Downtown to lay the foundation for what comes in the next 20 years.

What’s in the Proposed Columbus Zoning Code Update?
A set of changes to land use and zoning regulations could help maintain housing affordability and promote mixed-use development in the city.

Opinion: Why Environmentalists Should Support NYC ‘City of Yes’ Zoning Reform
The housing-oriented component of Mayor Eric Adams’ City of Yes proposal could serve the double purpose of making housing more affordable and reducing GHG emissions and car dependency.
Pagination
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
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.