An Encylopedia of Land Use Codes

Sometimes running hundreds of pages long, the modern zoning code may seem the ultimate in dense bureaucracy, but these documents play a major role in dictating the physical shape and feel of a place. Codes lay at the core of cities, determining their layout, look and form. They define the size and location of streets, how buildings relate to their surroundings, and how density changes across the city. An online collection of city codes dating back to the third century B.C. hopes to highlight how these codes can change cities for the better.

The Codes Project is a website featuring links to and information about dozens of city codes from throughout history. Run out of Arizona State University by professor Emily Talen, the project is intended to bring attention to the ways city regulations and guidelines can create attractive and livable places.