Form-Based Codes for Downtown Redevelopment: Insights from Southern California

Several cities have adopted form-based codes (FBCs) for downtown redevelopment. Using a multiple–case study method, this article examines the extent to which FBCs adopted by Southern California cities for downtown redevelopment differ from conventional zoning regulations (CZRs) in integrating LEED-ND criteria, which include sustainable design principles. Results show that FBCs generally integrate LEED-ND criteria to a greater extent than do the CZRs that they replaced; however, there is variation in the extent to which FBCs integrate these criteria. The article points to criteria that deserve more attention in these FBCs and presents recommendations for planners considering FBCs for downtown redevelopment.