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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aerial view of los angeles at night
The American City, Part 2: The Invention of a New Scale
Mark David Major
50 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM

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Lewis Mumford on the City 5: The City as Man's Home
31 Mins
  • AICP CM

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Bird-eye view of a freeway in constructions alongside a housing district
Federal Takings Law: Balancing Private Property Rights with the Public Interest
Peter Henn
55 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM

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columns in front of government building
Planning and the Law: Procedural Due Process
Thomas Hawkins
69 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A

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various maps of building types
Form-Based Codes: Using Building Types, Part 2
53 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD

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examples of universal design which include bus stop sign with large letters, public transit space for wheelchair bound people
Planning for Universal Design
Lance Freeman
46 Mins
  • CIP
  • AICP CM

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government building with columns
Form-Based Codes 101: Legal Aspects
Daniel Parolek, Daniel K. Slone
85 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A

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European city with train and buildings in black and white
Lewis Mumford on the City 3: The City and Its Region
30 Mins
  • AICP CM

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Rendering of a mixed use development with a theatre, restaurant, and residential units above
Suburban Remix: Creating the Next Generation of Urban Places
David Dixon
63 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD

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Design in Planning: An Overview
Jason Kambitsis
58 Mins
  • SACPLAN CPD

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aerial image of portland oregon
The American City, Part 3: Learning from the Grid
Mark David Major
53 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM

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busy street with pedestrians, cars, and streetlights in New York
Designing the Megaregion
Jonathan Barnett
65 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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Image of a suburban area skyline birdeye view with houses, commercial buildings, and greenery
Zoning Code Reform: Legal and Practical Considerations When Making “Quick Fixes” to Your Zoning Code
Peter Henn
102 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM

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aerial view of large outdoor parking lot
Parking Reform Made Easy
Richard Willson
72 Mins
  • AICP CM

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cars in traffic emitting pollution
Transportation Planning: Effects on the Environment, Health, and Social Justice
Richard Willson
57 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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aerial of Houston with houses and buildings
Planning for Racial Equity
Lance Freeman
55 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM

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aerial photo of atlanta georgia skyline
Form-Based Codes 101: Citywide and Countywide Code Updates
Lisa Wise, Daniel Parolek, Mary Madden, Peter Park
59 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM

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stores and buildings on main street
Introduction to Planning
Mary Reilly
46 Mins

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mixed-use development with people walking, retail stores
Walkable Density: Building Livable, Equitable, and Resilient Communities
David Dixon
60 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD

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zoning law books
Code Drafting and the Law
Mark White
66 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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colorful townhomes
Missing Middle Housing: Meeting the Growing Demand for Walkable Urbanism
Daniel Parolek
72 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A

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row of cars and parking meters
Donald Shoup Explains Parking Reform
Donald Shoup
48 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD

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The First Five Years: A Practical Land Use Toolbox for New Planners
Corrin Wendell
111 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM

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adult store exterior with neon signs
Regulating Sex Businesses, Part 1: Principles and Foundations
Eric Damian Kelly
61 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A

Top Zoning Codes Instructors

Eric Damian Kelly

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

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Daniel Parolek

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

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David Dixon

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

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Mark David Major

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

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Richard Willson

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

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Norman Wright

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

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Brad Neumann

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

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Mary Reilly

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

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Donald Shoup

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

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Geoffrey Ferrell

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

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Mary Madden

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

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Peter Henn

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

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Jeff Speck

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

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Nolan Gray

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

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Jenny Schuetz

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

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Christy Dodson

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

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Jason Neville

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

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Lance Freeman

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

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Meredith Johnson

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

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Chris Holtkamp

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

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Alan Weinstein

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

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Malak Hakim

Malak Hakim is a nationally accredited urban planner.

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James Carpentier

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

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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

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools Sign Up

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

Instructor: Emily Talen

Urban planners and urban designers are interested in building places that embody beauty and hope. In this course, Emily Talen, PhD, FAICP, presents free urban design software tools that can help urban planners and urban designers visualize changes in the built environment to support the overarching goal of creating better places.

4.28
59 Mins
AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD
AutoCAD for 3D Modeling Sign Up

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AutoCAD for 3D Modeling

Instructor: Jaymes Dunsmore

Most planners and designers don't use just one drawing or visualization program. In this course you'll learn how to create 3D drawings in AutoCAD and how to use AutoCAD in concert with other programs, such as Adobe Illustrator and Sketchup, to create illustrative plan, section, and perspective views.

4.31
66 Mins
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

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