Zoning Codes

Short-Term Rentals

Ontario Upholds Toronto's Airbnb Regulations

The vacancy rate in Toronto has been estimated as low 1.1 percent, but the province has approved regulations intended to restore units that have been taken off the long-term rental market by short-term rental platforms like Airbnb.

November 20, 2019 - The Globe and Mail

New York Development

Measuring the Effect of Zoning on Housing Prices

Recent political interest in local land use regulations requires a thorough and nuanced understanding of the strengths and limitations of the methodologies available for measuring the effects of zoning.

November 6, 2019 - Brookings

Indiana University Bloomington

Single-Family Zoning on the Cutting Block in Bloomington, Indiana

Move over Minneapolis. An Indiana college town joins the avant-garde of planning innovation by nearing the finish line with a new Unified Development Ordinance that would allow duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in single-family neighborhoods.

October 25, 2019 - Hoosier Times

Cincinnati Area

Covington's New Neighborhood Development Code Wants to Ease Development, Protect Charm

Covington, Kentucky is seeking feedback from the public on a new zoning code after 18 months of work.

October 23, 2019 - WCPO

Detroit Public Transit

Work Underway to Update Detroit's Zoning Code

The first deliverable in the process of updating the city of Detroit's zoning ordinance is publically available.

September 19, 2019 - Curbed Detroit

Presidential Blvd Road Diet

A New Form-Based Zoning Code and the 'Conflicted Soul' of the Suburbs

The new form-based zoning code under consideration in the affluent Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion "has something to teach Philadelphia and other big cities about how to organize density smartly," according to Inga Saffron.

September 9, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Suburban Homes

Discretionary Approval for McMansions

Redwood City, located on the San Francisco Peninsula, will make it harder to build homes that take up more than 45 percent of a residential lot.

August 28, 2019 - The Mercury News

Lawns and Suburban Homes

Opinion: It’s Time Zoning Laws Reflected the Real World

Current zoning restrictions hearken back to an America that long longer exists. It’s time to update codes and stop perpetuating housing segregation and inequality.

August 9, 2019 - The New York Times

New York City Zoning Map

Zoning Codes, Explained

Looking for a way to describe zoning codes, and their role in city planning, to a newcomer to the field? Maybe start here.

August 7, 2019 - CityLab

Iowa

New Zoning Code Evolves as Affordability Concerns Linger

The city of Des Moines is working on a new zoning code intended to ease the process of developing homes. The proposed regulations have triggered warnings from affordable housing advocates as well as local and nation home builders.

August 2, 2019 - Des Moines Register

California Development

Zoning Change for Mixed-Use Developments, Density Near Transit Moves Forward

Until now, mixed-use projects have required a lengthy discretionary approval process in San Diego. That could change with a zoning change given preliminary approval by the City Council this week.

July 30, 2019 - Times of San Diego

New York City Hotel

Small Hotels a Non-Starter After Zoning Change in New York City

A local labor organization wanted larger hotels to help workers create unions, so they sought a zoning change to make it harder to develop smaller hotels in light manufacturing zones.

July 17, 2019 - The Real Deal

Los Angeles Downtown River

A Sneak Peek at the New Plan (and Zoning Code) for Downtown Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Department of City Planning has released a draft of the DTLA 2040 plan. In addition to the changes it proposes for the downtown area, it's the first community plan update to roll out the city's new zoning code.

July 6, 2019 - Urbanize LA

Tomatoes

Florida Preempts Local Zoning Laws That Prohibit Gardens

Many gardeners in Florida celebrated this week, as Senate Bill 82 went into effect, by planting fruits and vegetables in their yards, legally, whether their city liked it or not.

July 4, 2019 - NPR

Des Moines, Iowa

New Zoning Code Aims to Remove Red Tape in Des Moines

The city of Des Moines is hoping to update its zoning code for the first time since 1965.

June 3, 2019 - Des Moines Register

Starbucks Drive-Thru

Citywide Ban on New Drive-Thrus Moves Forward in Minneapolis

The city of Minneapolis doesn't want any more drive-throughs in the city, in an effort to cut down on emissions, car trips, and conflict points in the public realm.

May 21, 2019 - Star Tribune

New York Subway

Community Planning Gives Voices to the Voiceless

People who can't vote can still have a say in the processes by which their neighborhoods are planned and developed. An example from New York City illustrates the point.

May 8, 2019 - Next City

The Rockaway Beach Boardwalk

Zoning Reform for Coastal Resilience in New York City

The New York City Department of City Planning has released a large set of recommendations for zoning changes designed to help the city's many coastal areas weather the inevitable extreme weather events of climate change and sea level rise.

May 7, 2019 - NYC Planning

Denver Light Rail

What Denver's Big 2040 Comprehensive Plan Means for 2019

Important distinctions about the difference between a comprehensive plan and zoning code changes, as well as details of the form-based influences of the new Denveright 2040 plan are reported here.

April 30, 2019 - The Denver Post

New York City, New York

Op-Ed Supports Staten Island Rezoning for its Green Benefits

A rezoning proposal for Staten Island in New York City gets support from a local resident with deep involvement in the community.

April 4, 2019 - silive.com

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

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100 Most Influential Urbanists

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Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

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