Form-based codes

Have you ever drawn a picture using stencils or tracing paper? Form-based codes are like stencils that help a city or town draw a picture of what they want their neighborhoods to look like.

First, the grown-ups in charge of the city or town decide what they want the neighborhood to be like in terms of things like buildings, sidewalks, parks, and transportation. They also ask the people who live in the neighborhood what they would like to see.

Next, they create a set of rules that tell everyone how the neighborhood should look. These rules are called form-based codes. Think of them as a set of instructions like the ones your parents or teachers give you when doing a craft. The codes tell builders and developers what the buildings and streets should look like, how tall or wide they can be, where parking should go, and what colors and materials to use.

When everyone follows these rules, it makes the neighborhood look like the picture the grown-ups and residents have drawn together. It also makes sure that the neighborhood is safe, easy to walk or bike around, and feels comfortable for everyone who lives there.