Land Use Regulation

Cities have great ability to regulate the use of land, primarily through zoning policies that determine what uses are allowed or disallowed in what areas. These zoning policies are critical for ensuring that new development is sustainable, and can also be used to prohibit uses that are accelerating the climate crisis, such as fossil fuel extraction and refinement.

Mixed Use Zoning

Mixed use zoning is when residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses of land are all permitted in one area. This allows residents to access what they need by walking, biking, or rolling rather than driving. Ending single family zoning and integrating commercial and residential life drastically reduces transportation emissions by reducing automobile dependency. Mixed use zoning also allows for increased density, thereby preventing sprawl without curtailing development.

Resources
Mixed Use Zoning Chapter of the Sustainable Development Code
“Gentle” Density Can Save Our Neighborhoods (Brookings Institute, 2019)
Connecting People and Places: Exploring New Measures of Travel Behavior (Brookings Institute, 2019)

Examples
Norfolk, VA
Lewisboro, NY
Los Angeles, CA
Minneapolis, MN

Ban On Fossil Fuel Extraction, Refinement, and/or Processing

Fossil fuels are the greatest driver of human-caused climate change. Bans or moratoriums on fracking, mining, drilling allow a municipality to help stop perpetuating dependence and use of fossil fuels. In communities without active extraction, protective bans can be put in place to prevent future extraction. Bans can also be put in place on new fossil fuel processing infrastructure, and/or sunsets on active extraction sites or facilities.

Resources

Policy Brief on Fracking Bans and Moratoriums (Local Progress, 2019)

Examples
Los Angeles, CA

Antioch, CA

Baltimore, MD
Whatcom County, WA
Newport Beach, CA

Ban on New Gas Stations

Municipalities are assessing their needs for existing and new gas stations as changes are happening in the transportation district. Increasing demand and usage of electric or hydrogen fuel powered cars diminish the need for gas stations, increasing demand for alternative fueling/charging sites. Gas stations also pose risks to the local community through leaks into the environment, particularly into drinking water sources.

Resources
Article on Municipal Gas Station Bans (The Guardian, 2022)
Mini-Report on Local Gas Station Bans (Stand.Earth, 2022)

Examples
Petaluma, CA
Lewisboro, NY
Santa Rosa, CA

Smart Growth

Smart growth aims to add new homes, businesses, parks, recreational facilities, and other amenities to a community without increasing negative environmental impacts. Policies included in this section aim to increase economical infill development while ensuring the preservation of natural areas.

Resources
The Role of Compact Development in Reducing GHG (ULI, 2010)
Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit (Smart Growth America, 2015)
Smart Growth Principle Examples (Smart Growth Online, 2022)
Smart Growth in Small Towns and Rural Communities (EPA, 2022)
Understanding Smart Growth Savings (Transport Policy Institute, 2023)

Examples
Old North St. Louis, MO
Genesee County, NY

Transit Oriented Development

Transit-Oriented Development is when local officials utilize public investment and zoning policies to encourage density and urban development centered around public transit. This allows for public transit systems to be more effective and reduces the need for cars. The promotion of transit-oriented development has been shown to improve air quality, increase ridership, and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Resources
Why TOD Matters (ITDP, 2023)
How to Implement Transit Oriented Development (C40, 2019)
Promoting Opportunity through Equitable Transit Oriented Development (Enterprise, 2015)
TOD Guide for Urban Communities (World Resource Institute, 2014)

Examples
Chicago, IL
Boston, MA
Dallas, TX