government building with columns

Form-Based Codes 101: Legal Aspects

This course explores the legal issues of creating and using a form-based code.

  • Preview Course PREVIEW

Course Info

  • Duration 7 video lessons (85 Mins)
  • Published Published
  • 4.39
Play Video

Preview Course Preview Course

Browse Course Chapters

  • Chapter Locked
    1.
    Introduction
    Chapter Duration 1 min
  • Chapter Locked
    2.
    Legal Issues in Creating a Form-Based Code, Part 1
    Chapter Duration 18 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    3.
    Legal Issues in Creating a Form-Based Code, Part 2
    Chapter Duration 22 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    4.
    How to Do a Legal Calibration
    Chapter Duration 10 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    5.
    Legal Issues in Using a Form-Based Code
    Chapter Duration 11 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    6.
    Emerging Code Issues
    Chapter Duration 9 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    7.
    Planning Considerations
    Chapter Duration 11 mins

Course Description

This course covers the legal authority for form-based coding, which, helpfully, is essentially the same for conventional zoning. The course will also cover state statutory changes designed to facilitate and expand the use of form-based codes, noting recent case law, statutory, and regulatory changes to state environmental review laws that have constrained or encouraged the use of form-based codes. The course will relate the use of form-based codes to recent U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence on regulatory takings and the limits of the police power. The course will also discuss recent developments in the permissible degree of restriction of land for civic uses, open space, and parkland. The course also discusses case law involving the balance between discretionary review and prescriptive regulatory requirements, connecting those concepts with development review processes under form-based codes. These subjects will be placed in the context of the evolving body of statutory and case law related to comprehensive planning and regional planning.

Learn these skills

  • Development
  • Land Use
  • Law and Policy
  • Regulations
  • Urban Design
  • Zoning Codes

AICP CM

This course is approved for 1.25 AICP CM credit, including 1 Law CM credit. 

View all courses available for CM credit.

AIA CES

This is 1 LU.

CNU-A

This course is approved for 1.25 CNU-A credit.

Meet Your Instructor

Daniel Parolek

Daniel Parolek

Daniel Parolek is a nationally recognized thought leader in architecture, design, and urban planning, specifically in terms of creating livable, sustainable communities and buildings that reinforce them.

Meet Instructor
Daniel K. Slone

Daniel K. Slone

Daniel K. Slone is a partner of McGuireWoods LLP in Richmond, VA. Dan assists innovative clients in designing and implementing their projects.

Meet Instructor

Master Urban Planning Skills With A Planetizen Courses Subscription.

Try Free Courses
Computer

High quality video lessons developed by experts.

Analytics

Complete course work to receive a certificate from Planetizen.

Certificate

Test your comprehension with course quizzes.

Cloud

Access reading lists, articles, and other materials prepared by instructors.