Land Use and Built Environment Laws and Regulations
This tab includes laws, legislation, regulations, agency guidance, and executive orders relevant to land use and the built environment.
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June 2019
In June 2019, the New York Department of State published model local laws to increase resilience as part of its required actions under the State’s Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CCRA). The model laws are divided into chapters addressing land use and zoning, wetlands and watercourses, coastline protection, floodplain management, and stormwater control. The fourth chapter addresses floodplain development management, including overlay districts and critical facilities protection, and includes model language local governments can adapt to that purpose.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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December 13, 2018
In 2018, Miami passed a mandatory inclusionary zoning (IZ) ordinance that requires the inclusion of affordable housing in the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) district, a 30-block area north of downtown Miami. Miami currently ranks lowest in the availability of affordable rental units among cities in the nation. Meanwhile, low-income communities in the city’s inland neighborhoods that are historically black and Latinx now face development pressures from wealthier residents seeking to relocate from the city’s low-lying coastal neighborhoods to the city’s inland neighborhoods.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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November 2, 2018
The City of Denver, Colorado established a Green Buildings Ordinance in 2018 requiring all new and existing buildings over 25,000 square feet in size to incorporate a “cool roof” along with other green energy measures. The new ordinance strengthens Denver’s 2017 green roof ordinance to go beyond vegetated roof requirements with additional, cost-effective options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing urban heat island effects across the city.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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October 17, 2018
In 2018, the City of Boston’s Public Works Department issued standards and guidelines for climate-resilient infrastructure to protect public rights-of-way from an expected 40-inch increase in sea level by 2070. In particular, the guidelines are intended to inform height adjustments for structures to account for sea-level rise, and establish a climate-resilient design process for shoreline barriers. City engineers and designers will be able to use these guidelines to inform designs for flood barriers protecting public rights-of-way to ensure they are prepared for the acute and chronic flooding conditions expected in coming years.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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September 12, 2018
The City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin has approved the Framework for a Green Infrastructure Plan with goals of supporting climate change adaptation and resilience. According to the Framework and Ordinance which updates Milwaukee's stormwater management regulations, large developments will be required to capture the first 1/2 inch of rainfall using green infrastructure. The plan also increases funding for green infrastructure projects in Milwaukee’s streets, schoolyards, and parking lots. The City expects to publish the final Green Infrastructure Plan based on this Framework by February 2019.
Resource Category: Planning
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July 18, 2018
On July 18, 2018, the city of Satellite Beach, FL, adopted Ordinance No. 1159, which updated building setback standards for structures in areas vulnerable to coastal erosion, requiring that new and existing structures be located at least 15 feet from the Coastal Construction Control Line.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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April 2018
In April 2018, New York City released new Climate Resiliency Design Guidelines that apply to all City capital projects, aside from coastal protection projects. The guidelines direct planners, engineers, architects, and others involved in project delivery on how to use regionally-specific future climate projections in the design of City facilities.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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October 11, 2017
The California legislature passed AB 733 specifically authorizing the creation of enhanced infrastructure financing districts for climate change adaptation projects, and the legislation was signed into law by Governor Brown on October 11, 2017.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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September 27, 2017
Rhode Island has approved legislation that requires all members of local planning boards and commissions to participate in a training program on the impacts of flooding and sea level rise to the state. One of the priorities is to help ensure that local decision makers can calculate the effects of sea level rise and flooding on development and land use in flood plains. The training is a free two-hour course required once every two years, for both coastal and inland municipalities - as flooding is expected on inland rivers and waterways as sea level rises as well.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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February 23, 2017
In 2008, The City of Portland Oregon adopted an Ecoroof Incentive program to address the city's stormwater management problems and the incentive program was active through 2012. The program provided an incentive for the installation of green roofs and other innovative roofing methods to better manage stormwater runoff. Green roofs have the potential to help mitigate both the urban heat island effect, increase the energy efficiency of buildings, and manage stormwater.
Resource Category: Solutions
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