Publications
National Research & Reports
Eliminating Map-to-Text Discrepancies: What happens when a zoning map doesn't match the zoning text?
Jonah Pellecchia, Melissa Hayashida, October 2024
Article published in the American Planning Association’s Zoning Practice exploring the prevalence, political and legal implications, and types of map-to-text discrepancies, concluding with recommended actions local planners and public officials can take to eliminate this problem.
A National Zoning Atlas to Inform Housing Research, Policy, and Public Participation
Wenfei Xu, Scott Markley, Sara C. Bronin, Diana Drogaris, November 2023
Article featured in article HUD’s Cityscape volume dedicated to 100 Years of Federal-Model Zoning. It discusses the context for and methodology behind the atlas and establishes three possibilities for using the atlas, including facilitating research (such as fair housing research), strengthening planning, and empowering the public.
How to Make a Zoning Atlas 2.0: The Official Methodology of the National Zoning Atlas
Sara Bronin, Scott Markley, Aline Fader, Evan Derickson, last updated April 2024
Updated methodological document to guide National Zoning Atlas contributors in translating and standardizing zoning information for their own regional or statewide atlas through uploading zoning and geospatial data to the Editor tool.
Automating Zoning Data Collection: Results from a Pilot Effort to Automate National Zoning Atlas Methodologies
Judah Axelrod, Lydia Lo, & Sara C. Bronin, February 2023
Research report on findings from a pilot project designed to gauge the extent to which tools such as text analysis and natural language processing, a branch of machine learning focused on written and spoken language, can automate the zoning code data collection process.
How to Make a Zoning Atlas 1.0: A Methodology for Translating and Standardizing District-Specific Regulations
Sara C. Bronin and Ilya Ilyankou, last updated October 2022
Methodological document to guide National Zoning Atlas contributors in translating and standardizing zoning information for their own regional or statewide atlas and to map the data ensuring that is compatible with the national map.
State Research & REPorts
Bringing Zoning into Focus
Yonah Freemark, Lydia Lo, Sara C. Bronin, June 2023
Research report highlighting the association between strict zoning regulations limiting construction to single-family homes and inadequate access to affordable housing, as well as the segregation of people by income, race, and ethnicity, based on an analysis of the Connecticut Zoning Atlas dataset.
Zoning By A Thousand Cuts
Sara C. Bronin, May 2023
Scholarly article providing a detailed empirical analysis of the hidden constraints on housing embedded in zoning codes, using data from the original zoning atlas, from Connecticut.
Issue Brief: The Environmental Case for Zoning Reform
Desegregate Connecticut, August 2022
Issue brief explaining how a fresh look at Connecticut’s land use policies can reverse costly environmental degradation and help the state fight climate change.
Issue Brief: Get on Board for Equitable Transit-Oriented Communities
Desegregate Connecticut, January 2022
Issue brief about zoning around Connecticut’s transit stations.
Issue Brief: Small Lots in Smart Places — A Right-Sized Solution for CT
Desegregate Connecticut, January 2022
Issue brief about Connecticuts’s minimum lot sizes and the need for reform.
Launching the Michigan Zoning Atlas: Report of the West Michigan Pilot
Robert Goodspeed, Sarah Mills, Leah DuMouchel and Andrea Brown, November 2024
Report summarizing the West Michigan Pilot of the Michigan Zoning Atlas with discussion of an illustrative planning analysis conducted using the project data.
Montana Zoning Atlas 2.0
Frontier Institute, January 2023
Report using the National Zoning Atlas methodology to evaluate the 13 fast-growing Montana counties to see how Montana communities treat affordable types of housing.
Montana Zoning Atlas 1.0
Frontier Institute, May 2022
Report using parcel-level analysis to evaluate how Montana’s most in-demand communities treat affordable types of housing.
Zoning of Home-Based Childcare in New Hampshire
NH Zoning Atlas team, Community Development Finance Authority, September 2024
Analysis leveraging the New Hampshire Zoning Atlas data collection framework to take stock of the zoning regulations that govern home-based child care in every community across the state.
The New Hampshire Zoning Atlas
Jason Sorens, May 2023
Methodological paper detailing the variables and data collection process for the New Hampshire Zoning Atlas that includes a summary of major statewide findings.
Land Use Regulations and Housing Affordability in Northern Virginia: A National Zoning Atlas Analysis
Eli Kahn, Andrew Crouch, and Emily Hamilton, May 2024
Policy brief that explains the value of collecting data on zoning and the NZA methodology, details results from an analysis of regulations in Northern Virginia, and provides context for findings.
Virgina Zoning Atlas
HousingForward Virginia, November 2023, updated October 2024
Compendium of methods, research findings, and data visualizations for the Hampton Roads region of the Virginia Zoning Atlas. Updated to include findings for the Northern Virginia and PlanRVA regions.
