ABSTRACT
In the United States almost all development takes place in accordance with codes which are usually described as zoning codes, but go far beyond establishing land-use zones to determine how much can be built, where it can be built, and what form development may take – including building height, placement, and total floor area. In the majority of jurisdictions these codes are the most effective planning instruments; frequently they are the only planning instruments. Planning textbooks say that codes are a means of implementing comprehensive plans, but most such plans today set forth goals, objectives, and policies without much in the way of specific physical references. As a practical matter, the zoning code is a comprehensive plan and defines permissible future development for most US communities.
