Zoning Reform

San Diego Harbor

Major Parking Reform Effort Moving Forward in San Diego

Civic San Diego and San Diego planning commissioners approved new parking standards that would eliminate minimums and set maximums of one space per multifamily unit. Those reforms and more must still be approved by the City Council.

February 4, 2019 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Wisconsin

Wisconsin County Completes First Comprehensive Zoning Code Rewrite in 70-Plus Years

Dane County, Wisconsin, which includes the city of Madison, has rewritten its zoning code to address a changing economy and a state-mandated system of local control.

January 29, 2019 - Waunakee Tribune

St. Paul Minnesota

Affordable Housing Advocacy Efforts Taking Root in St. Paul

St. Paul, Minnesota, is working on its comprehensive plan, and advocates want to see upzoning changes similar to what happened in Minneapolis.

January 10, 2019 - Star Tribune

Philadelphia Rowhouses

Philadelphia Unlikely to Follow Minneapolis' Lead in Zoning Reform

Minneapolis is setting a bold example by ending single-family zoning, but chances are a similar change won’t be coming to Philadelphia.

January 9, 2019 - PlanPhilly

Utah

Legislation Would Loosen Zoning for TOD and ADUs, Require Housing Plans From Cities in Utah

State preemption, in the form major zoning reforms and mandates for local housing targets, are on the table in the Utah Legislature this year.

January 3, 2019 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Atlanta Street

Zoning Changes May Be Coming to Atlanta

The city is considering zoning updates, including legalization of accessory dwelling units and smaller apartment buildings, which would increase density and provide more housing.

December 26, 2018 - SaportaReport

Los Angeles

CDBG Funds Not Useful Focus for Zoning Reform

Linking zoning reform mandates to CDBG funding is not an effective way to change exclusionary zoning.

November 8, 2018 - Brookings

Missoula

New 'Design Excellence Overlay' Aims to Inspire New Development in Missoula

The city of Missoula professes a strategy of "focusing inward" when it comes to growth and development. A new 'Design Excellence Overlay' will help achieve more goals toward that strategy in the city's downtown.

October 18, 2018 - Missoula Current

Minneapolis Riverfront

Mapping the Ambitious Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan

A parcel-by-parcel map of zoning changes included in the Minneapolis 2040 comprehensive plan.

October 15, 2018 - Star Tribune

California State Capital

Regional Housing Needs Allocation Reform Bill on Gov. Brown's Desk

The lone survivor of Sen. Scott Wiener's trio of "Housing-First Policy" bills awaits a decision by Gov. Jerry Brown. Senate Bill 828, intended to increase the amount of land zoned for housing in California cities, was weakened by amendments.

September 25, 2018 - The Real Deal

Gaslamp Quarter

Transit Oriented Upzoning Can't Win Local Support in San Diego

Residents are shooting down plans that propose increased density and height in San Diego. The city had planned to cut its carbon footprint by encouraging transit oriented development.

September 23, 2018 - Voice of San Diego

Vancouver Townhomes

'Making Room Housing Program' Would Allow New Density in Vancouver

Duplexes, rowhouses, and small apartment buildings will be on the zoning menu for "housing choice neighborhoods" around Vancouver, thanks to the city's new "Making Room Housing Program."

August 22, 2018 - Sightline Institute

Single Family Residential Construction

What If Zoning Codes Were Dynamic?

Parking prices, toll lanes, and tickets to a ballgame can be dynamic, with prices fluctuating depending on market conditions. What if zoning could change when triggered by demographic and market conditions?

June 13, 2018 - Strong Towns

Austin

Austin Reminded to Be Respectful While Debating CodeNEXT

A call for civility amid the great zoning debate in Austin, Texas.

June 11, 2018 - KUT

Legislation Would Ensure California Housing Construction Keeps Pace with Population Growth

A companion bill to the controversial SB 827, also introduced Sen. Scott Wiener (D-S.F)., could have a similar impact on housing production but hasn't gathered nearly as much attention. SB 828 makes critical changes to the state's housing supply law.

April 14, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Kentucky

A Small Zoning Change With a Big Effect

The city of Lexington, Kentucky recently amended its B-6P zone, which regulates "Planned Shopping Centers."

February 20, 2018 - Strong Towns

Sixth Street, Austin

Catch Up With Austin's CodeNEXT

CodeNEXT is one of the most ambitious, and controversial, zoning reform projects ongoing in the country, with lessons to offer planners all over the country in code writing, public outreach, and planning outcomes.

February 8, 2018 - CodeNEXT

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Considering Statewide Zoning Reform

A statewide zoning reform bill that made it part of the way through the Massachusetts State Legislature in 2016 is back up for consideration this year.

January 17, 2018 - The Boston Globe

Seattle

Revisiting Single-Family Zoning After a Political Setback

Few cities have gone so far in considering drastic changes to single-family zoning as Seattle did in 2015. Still, the discussion about single-family zoning would have to go a lot further to turn into meaningful reform.

November 1, 2017 - The Urbanist

City Hall

A Playbook for Achieving Meaningful Development Regulation Reform

Most cities know they need new development regulations, but it's much, much easier said than done.

October 18, 2017 - At Lincoln House

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.