Table of Contents

Form-Based Zoning  |  Zoning Reform and Code Writing

The city’s unified development ordinance is a mapped mandatory form-based code. It includes eleven neighborhood zones, ten district zones, and three corridor zones, all with permissible land uses, form standards, building frontage types, façade design standards, parking standards, and landscaping standards.

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

The city’s unified development ordinance encourages the use of green infrastructure tactics in a waterfront zoning district for coastal resiliency and in any development for construction and post-construction stormwater management. It includes the use of green infrastructure tactics as an approach to implementing a shoreline buffer for properties with waterfront yards (§5.3.3.5.b.iv). It prioritizes conservation of natural areas over the use of infiltration practices and infiltration practices over the use of retention practices in both construction and post-construction stormwater management (§7.3.4.A). The unified development code also requires the identification of green infrastructure design features in the process of approving a subdivision development (§11.5.8.B.6.c).

Housing Supply Planning

The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is Buffalo, New York’s first comprehensive zoning revision since 1953. It combines land use, subdivision, and public realm regulations into one accessible document. This document includes a “form-based code” approach to its standards to create walkable, transit-supportive, and unique neighborhoods.

Rethinking Off-Street Parking Requirements

The city’s unified development code requires any land uses or development to provide off-street parking (§8.3.1.A). This market-based approach means all off-street parking provision is at the developer’s or owner’s discretion.