Zoning Codes | Planetizen Courses

One of the cornerstones of urban planning in many cities, zoning codes are sets of regulations used by local governments to control land use by defining what can and cannot be built in specific neighborhoods, what buildings can look like, and what uses can coexist in the same areas. Use-based zoning is an important tool for guiding development in most U.S. cities, but more recently, cities are turning to form-based codes, which focus on design rather than use. Local jurisdictions often push back when states attempt to preempt local control of zoning through statewide regulations that mandate higher density.

Zoning Codes Courses

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street with storefronts and living spaces

Form-Based Codes 101: Introduction

Mary Madden, Victor Dover

74 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A

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aerial view of houston freeways

Transportation Planning: Making Transportation Plans—Rationality and Politics

Richard Willson

60 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

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storefronts with different building heights

Right-Sizing Zoning for Better Outcomes

129 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM

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child playing with bubbles in park

Introduction to Healthy Communities

72 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

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aerial view of boston with housing and city skyline in background

Constitutional Limitations on Planning and Zoning

61 Mins

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Two hands holding up a digital globe.

The 21st Century Comprehensive Plan

64 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM

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rendering of city streets and buildings

The DIY Form-Based Code: An Introduction

28 Mins

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sketchup model of cityblocks for urban planning course

Urban Design for Planners 5: Density

64 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

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aerial view of a large outdoor parking lot with cars

The High Cost Of Minimum Parking Requirements

65 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

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tree lined neighborhood

Form-Based Codes 101: Learning How To Look

Geoffrey Ferrell

71 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A

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church surrounded by city buildings

Federal and State Religious Land Use Statutes

61 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM

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Building exteriors downtown dixon illinois

Zoning for Incremental Development

101 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM

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electronic church sign on street corner

Regulating Electronic Message Centers

James Carpentier

49 Mins

AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

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aerial of residential streets

How Does Zoning Work?

49 Mins

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aerial view of houses

U.S. Housing Policy: What Every Planner Needs to Know

59 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM

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rendering of neighborhood

The DIY Form-Based Code: Research and Development

66 Mins

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photo of st augustine florida for urban planning course

Introduction to Planning: The Comprehensive Plan

Eric Damian Kelly

56 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
SACPLAN CPD

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cars parked along curb in Old Town Pasadena California

Parking Benefit Districts

56 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM
SACPLAN CPD

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frontal view of different colored apartments lined on street

Form-Based Codes 101: Neighborhoods

Geoffrey Ferrell, Daniel Parolek

68 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
LA CES

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map view of mixed housing types

The YIMBY Movement: Opportunities and Challenges for Planners

Mark Vallianatos

66 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

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Denver union station with city skyline aerial photo

Introduction to Transit Oriented Development

51 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM
SACPLAN CPD

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storefronts lined on sidewalk

Frontage Types and the Public Realm

72 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

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closeup of a hand holding a pencil and architectural drawings on a desk

The Site Plan

55 Mins

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Bus departs busbay in town center

Planning Communities for Maximum Transit Access

75 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM

Top Zoning Codes Instructors

Eric Damian Kelly

Eric Damian Kelly is a lawyer and planner with more than 35 years of experience working...

Daniel Parolek

Daniel Parolek is a nationally recognized thought leader in architecture, design, and urban planning, specifically in...

David Dixon

David is well known for helping create new, mixed-use urban districts (in both cities and suburbs)...

Mark David Major

Dr. Mark David Major, AICP, CNU-A is a Professor of Urban Design at the Savannah College...

Richard Willson

Richard Willson is a professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at California State...

Norman Wright

Norman Wright is the Director of Neighborhood Services for Adams County, Colorado. In his career as...

Brad Neumann

Brad Neumann is a MSU Senior Extension Educator who serves as an educational resource for local...

Mary Reilly

Mary Reilly is a land use educator with Michigan State University Extension.

Donald Shoup

Donald Shoup is Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Urban Planning at UCLA. His research...

Geoffrey Ferrell

Geoffrey is one of the originators of the modern practice of Form-Based Codes. His work ranges...

Mary Madden

Mary Madden has nearly 20 years of experience in the fields of urban planning and design...

Peter Henn

PETER J. HENN, Esq., AICP, is a land use attorney at Jones Foster in West Palm...

Jeff Speck

Jeff Speck is a city planner who advocates internationally for more walkable cities.

Nolan Gray

M. Nolan Fray is the Research Director for California YIMBY, an expert in urban land-use regulation...

Jenny Schuetz

Jenny is a Senior Fellow at Brookings Metro and an expert in housing policy.

Christy Dodson

Christy is an Urban Designer at Code Studio, with a background in architecture and planning.

Jason Neville

Jason is an experienced urban planner, redevelopment professional, and affordable housing developer.

Lance Freeman

Lance Freeman is a Professor in the Urban Planning Program at Columbia University in New York...

Meredith Johnson

Meredith is the owner of Johnson Planning and Preservation LLC, a boutique firm that works to...

Chris Holtkamp

Chris Holtkamp is a certified planner and is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning at the...

Alan Weinstein

Alan Weinstein holds a joint faculty appointment at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and...

Malak Hakim

Malak Hakim is a nationally accredited urban planner.

James Carpentier

James Carpentier is State and Local Government Affairs Manager with the International Sign Association (ISA).

Lisa Wise

As a planner and Certified Public Accountant, Ms. Wise has 20 years of professional experience in...

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All Zoning Codes Courses

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What Is Generative AI and Why It Matters for Urban Planning

Instructor: Tom Sanchez

This course introduces urban planners to Generative AI (GenAI), covering its fundamentals and demonstrating how it can create text, images, videos, and designs to enhance planning practices.

4.38

61 Mins

CIP

AIA CES

AICP CM

Free

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Regional Planning Workflows in the UrbanSim Cloud Platform

Instructor: Sam Blanchard

This course reviews the basic land use forecasting workflows that can be completed using the UrbanSim Cloud Platform, as illustrated by a set of case studies.

4.29

57 Mins

Free