Announcing 2021 Driehaus Award Winner: The Evolution of Form-Based Codes

Today, the Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America is thrilled to announce the winner of the fifteenth annual Richard H. Driehaus Form-Based Code Award for achievement in the writing and implementation of a stellar form-based zoning code—the City of South Bend Zoning Ordinance for the City of South Bend, Indiana.

Form-Based Codes

The Form-Based Codes Institute is in the zone

Tomorrow continues a month full of zoning-related webinars and releases for the Form-Based Codes Institute with the announcement of the winner of the fifteenth annual Driehaus Form-Based Code Award. An upcoming webinar on October 18th featuring experts from across development and economic research to discuss the Form-Based Institute’s first-of-its-kind report Zoned In: Economic Benefits & Shared Prosperity with Form-Based Codes follows, with the opening class of FBCI’s most popular introductory course, FBC 101: The ABCs of Form-Based Codes making its virtual debut the first week of November. Read on for more.

Form-Based Codes

In the zone with form-based codes

The results are in: places that adopt form-based zoning codes generally perform better economically than places regulated by more conventional, Euclidean zoning—and there’s evidence that the former can also help foster more equitable development, according to new research released today by the Form- Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America.

Economic development Form-Based Codes

Zoned In: Economic Benefits & Shared Prosperity with Form-Based Codes

Measuring the impact of form-based codes to encourage smart growth Form-based codes are widely recognized as tools to improve the character of a place, encourage physical activity, and strengthen resilience to climate change. While most people who are familiar with form-based codes believe that the places these codes regulate tend to perform better economically than … Continued

Economic development Form-Based Codes

Webinar recap: Using an NCI charrette to create a vision for a form-based code


This November, we hosted “From vision to implementation: Using an NCI charrette to create a vision for a form-based code,” a joint webinar between the Form-Based Codes Institute and the National Charrette Institute. Speakers shared their experiences using NCI charrette workshops to develop form-based codes in Norman, OK and Arlington County, VA.

Form-Based Codes

Form-based codes: A means to equity in a compassionate city


A century of traditional land-use practices has ingrained inequities deep into communities across America. We’ve produced sprawling, auto-oriented development that has also separated people based on wealth, ethnicity, and race. Form-based zoning is well-positioned to compliment equity-driven public policies, while also enabling walkable, human-scaled development that residents and businesses love.

Form-Based Codes