Building Great Neighborhoods with Form-Based Codes

What are form-based codes?

Form-based codes foster predictable built results and a high-quality public realm by using physical form (rather than separation of uses) as the organizing principle for the code. They are regulations, not mere guidelines. They are adopted into city or county law. Form-based codes are an alternative to conventional zoning.

— Form-Based Code Institute

Form-based codes in Cincinnati

Vice Mayor Qualls has been working with neighborhood leaders from around the city who are interested in form-based codes since 2008, and introduced the City Council motion that initiated form-based codes development for Cincinnati. She has also organized several delegations of neighborhood leaders, city staff and developers to travel to Nashville to learn firsthand about that city’s successful implementation of form-based codes.

Next Steps

Vice Mayor Qualls is working with City Planning and community stakeholders to organize a city-wide charrette (a multi-day visioning process) to develop tools that neighborhoods can use to implement form-based codes in their community for early 2012. The charrette will produce a Community Character Manual that neighborhoods can use to develop their own neighborhood plan for form-based code implementation.

Form-Based Codes Q&A

Great Places Created with Form-Based Codes

Cities across the country, including Denver, Miami, Nashville, and others are using form-based codes to stimulate neighborhood investment. In Nashville, taxable value in districts where form-based codes were implemented grew 75 percent from 2003-2008, compared to overall growth of 28 percent throughout Davidson County, according to Rick Bernhardt, Nashville Metro Planning Department executive director. 

» Nashville – on the ground results