Zoning reform for advancing sustainability: insights from Denver’s form-based code

Many municipalities are adopting form-based codes (FBCs) for advancing the sustainability of development and for facilitating sustainable design criteria that are difficult to achieve under conventional zoning codes (CZCs). The City of Denver recently adopted a citywide FBC. A case-study method was used to examine the extent to which Denver’s FBC differs from the CZC in integrating sustainable design criteria included in the LEED-ND rating system. The results indicate that Denver’s FBC addresses most LEED-ND criteria more strongly than does the CZC; however, some criteria deserve more attention. The paper concludes with recommendations for Denver’s FBC and for other municipalities that are considering zoning reform.