Regulations

Are You Getting the Change You Want from the Status Quo?

That question may seem like a contradiction, but it couldn't be more pertinent to communities and land use—existing codes and policies generate change by shaping investment.

March 6, 2015 - Better Cities & Towns

Residents Protest for the Right to Bear Sleds on Capitol Hill Snow Day

The sledding ban on Capitol Hill was too much for Washington, D.C. residents to bear. They brought wintertime fun to Congress on yesterday's snow day.

March 6, 2015 - The Hill

When Will Dallas Update its Tree Ordinance?

A guest column in the Dallas Morning News takes the Dallas political machine to task for delaying a new tree ordinance.

January 28, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Sunday Not-So-Fun-Day: More Cities Banning Sledding in Public

Cities simply can't afford the lawsuits that follow sledding injuries. Time will tell how strictly such laws are enforced.

January 11, 2015 - Quartz

Gov-Elect Abbott Says Local Regulations 'California-ize' Texas

Texas Gov.-elect Greg Abbott takes aim at local regulations, exemplified by tree-cutting bans in cities like Houston and San Antonio.

January 9, 2015 - The Houston Chronicle

Massachusetts Approves Initial Regulations for Transportation Network Companies

Transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft took a major step toward legal recognition in Massachusetts.

January 6, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Tough Week for Uber on the West Coast—Three Cities File Injunctions

Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland all filed suit against Uber recently hoping to bring the transportation network company in conformity with public safety regulations.

December 12, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Benefits of Uber in Philadelphia: Reduced Drunk Driving

While much of the concern of how to regulate transportation network companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar comes down to questions about safety and access, recent findings show that the apps have reduced DUI arrests in the City of Brotherly Love.

July 9, 2014 - PlanPhilly

Broad, Controversial Land Use Regulations Proposed for Mississippi River through Minnesota

After a failed attempt at similarly broad land use regulations failed in 2011, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is again undertaking an outreach process to create land use regulations along 72 miles of the Mississippi River.

July 5, 2014 - Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

On the Endangered Value of Taxi Medallions

Emily Badger focuses on the signifier at the middle of the ongoing battle between taxi companies and transportation network companies like Uber, Lfyt, and Sidecar—the taxi medallion.

June 24, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Despite Rejection of Residential High Rise, Houston Still Open to Density

A recent ruling that favored local homeowners over a developer in Houston had some wondering whether Houston's days as a "development free-for-all" were over. Fear not, says Stephen J. Smith.

June 3, 2014 - Next City

Chicago Regulates Uber and Lyft—but Not Enough to Satisfy Taxi Companies

The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance to regulate companies like Uber and Lyft, but taxi cab companies and their political supporters believe the policy set by the Emanuel Administration doesn't go far enough.

May 29, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

Legal Battle Over Transportation Network Companies Shifts to Chicago

Chicago political leaders are floating a pair of competing bills that would regulate transportation network companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar. Cab companies are pushing for legislation, seeking a “level playing field” in the market.

March 27, 2014 - Crain's Chicago Business

Push to 'Free the Food Trucks' in Dallas

A newly formed coalition of the food truck owners has begun lobbying the Dallas City Council to reduce the regulations governing the operation of food trucks around the city and open the streets to mobile food vending.

March 26, 2014 - Dallas Morning News

Cal Supremes Decide Whether Inclusionary Housing is a Regulation or Exaction

In a decision that may have far-reaching impacts, California's Supreme Court ruled last week that the City of Palo Alto's inclusionary housing requirement is an exaction rather than a land use regulation, reports William Fulton.

October 22, 2013 - California Planning & Development Report

As Feds Drag Their Feet on New Regulations, Environmentalists Fume

Worries about the economic impacts of new regulations, high-level vacancies and election-year politics have raised the review time for new rules being considered by the Obama administration to a 20-year high. Many in his own party are not pleased.

June 13, 2013 - The New York Times

Onerous Regulations Keep Food Trucks from Feeding Chicagoans

The difficulties food truck operators have encountered in trying to set up shop in Chicago provides a parable for how well meaning, but slow moving and cumbersome, public agencies can get in the way of their city's best interests.

January 5, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

Massachusetts Struggles to Retain its Young Talent

The Bay State is terrific at attracting the leading young minds from around to world to its prestigious institutions of higher education. But when those students graduate, high housing prices are forcing them out of the state, writes Edward Glaeser.

June 19, 2012 - The Boston Globe

Are Liberals and Conservatives Fighting Each Other's Land Use Battles?

In his book, The Rent Is Too Damn High, Matthew Yglesias encourages us to reexamine our assumptions about which urban policies our values really support.

March 23, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Deciding When Regulation Cost Too Much

Nearly everyone agrees that government needs to regulate. How much to regulate is the question. Reason Magazine looks at several current regulatory issues concludes that the regulatory pendulum "has swung too far."

January 4, 2012 - Reason Magazine

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.

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.