2021 Driehaus Form-Based Code Award

HAVE A HIGH PERFORMING FORM-BASED ZONING CODE?

Submit a nomination to this year’s Driehaus Award

The Richard H. Driehaus Form-Based Code Award is back for its 15th year! If your community has adopted a form-based code that is promoting people-scaled development and a mix of uses, your code may be a great example for others!

The Driehaus Award recognizes exemplary form-based codes that advance the practice of form-based zoning in both composition and implementation. Both newly-adopted and established codes showing positive built results are eligible. FBCI encourages applications for codes that have been adopted for disinvested neighborhoods or communities of color, or that have been drafted by minority professionals.

Submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 6. Details can be found on the Form-Based Codes Institute's website, including the entry form and instructions, previous winners, the 2021 Awards Jury, and eligibility requirements. For additional information, contact Jamie Zouras.

Form-based codes offer a significant advantage over auto-oriented, use-based zoning by focusing on the quality of the space between the buildings; the scale, placement, and facades of the buildings; the public and private open spaces; and the streetscapes. If well written and implemented, form-based codes promote human-scaled places that encourage a mix of uses and support walkability. In reviewing codes submitted for the award, the jury considers the following criteria:

1. Will the code promote good urbanism (has it resulted in high-quality development activity)?
2. Will the code deliver a predictable street character (public and private open space)?
3. Is the code implementable and relatively easy to use?
4. Does the code have relevant and distinguishing features that advance the practice?

If your code meets these criteria, consider submitting an entry form to nominate your code to be recognized by FBCI as an exemplary form-based code. Learn about the 2020 Driehaus Award winners here.