Zoning - Case Studies & Examples

"Will 2021 Be the Year Zoning Reform Reaches Critical Mass?"

Something remarkable is happening this year in City Halls across America.

"Did Sacramento Just Approve the Best Local Housing Reform Yet?"

There are only a couple reforms Strong Towns recommends unequivocally for every town and city. Sacramento just passed both of them…unanimously…in one evening.

"Sacramento Effectively Ended Single-Family Exclusive Zoning. But That’s Not All."

Sacramento City Council has unanimously approved a set of changes that will allow the California capital to meet its housing demands.

"Alexandria, VA, Says Goodbye to Exclusionary Zoning"

Alexandria, VA, one of the U.S.’s earliest settled cities, has just eliminated single-family zoning.

"How Zoning Codes Reinforce Car Dependency"

A look at how regulations shape land use in Marietta, Georgia, illustrates a vicious cycle: when your zoning code is premised on car-dependency, car-dependency becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"Legalize Accessory Commercial Units"

Accessory Commercial Units spur entrepreneurship and build a city’s prosperity. The problem? Many zoning laws make them functionally illegal.

"'A High School Education and an Hour of Your Time'"

Those two things are all you should need to be able to make sense of your city's zoning code. At least that's the philosophy guiding South Bend, Indiana, planners as they overhaul the city's regulations to be more legible and useful.

"A Small Zoning Change Could Have Big Implications For Lexington"

In the face of new growth, one city makes a simple change that unlocks huge potential.

"How Lexington Can Expand Affordable Housing (Without Touching the UGB)"

Three simple tactics could expand affordable housing options in Lexington, Kentucky, and other midsize cities like it.

"Zoning Reform Is Helping This City Avoid the Housing Crisis"

In 2017, California passed a law that was supposed to open up new levels of incremental development. But in many cities, zoning codes still make that development near-impossible. The city of Ukiah is working to change that.

"Kingston Welcomes New Zoning Code. It Has Advocates To Thank For That."

When the city of Kingston, NY, lagged on promises to rework its zoning code, this group of advocates stepped in to make it happen.

"Pre-Permitted Plans Help Kalamazoo Bring Housing Back"

Like so many other places, the city of Kalamazoo, MI, has been facing a cascade of housing challenges. Here’s how they’re tackling them using pre-approved housing plans.

"Is Affordable Housing Possible Under Current Zoning Laws?"

A new proposal to simplify zoning in Durham, NC is sparking controversy. Host Abby talks with special guest, Aaron Lubeck.

"Small Homes on Small Lots: How To Beat the Housing Crisis"

Since enacting broad housing reforms in 2019, Durham, North Carolina, has been experiencing an explosion of missing-middle housing and housing affordability. Here are the main reforms the city enacted and how they're helping it fight the housing crisis.

"The Invisible Reason for High Housing Prices: Restrictive Land-Use Regulations"

It is extremely difficult to build housing in Rhode Island. It’s also expensive to buy homes, with prices having increased by 34% since the summer of 2020. Why?

"Houston Tackles Missing-Middle Housing With Major Land Use Reform"

Houston has long been a poster child for urban planning ills—but now it’s set to pass a revision of its land-use ordinances that could trigger a wave of construction for missing-middle housing.

"Edmonton Passes Zoning Reform to Revive Traditional Housing"

The city of Edmonton, AB, has passed substantial zoning reforms that officials and housing advocates hope will generate more infill construction and help the fast-growing city add housing to keep pace.

What Can Assembling a Pizza Teach Us About Strong Communities?

Would you rather have a pizza, or the ingredients of a pizza arranged in separate piles? This analogy has something to teach us about the consequences of how we organize our cities.

• 2023 KUA Zoning Board Member Guide.pdf30 KB