What, Why, & How

Why do we need to revise the Land Development Code?

As a fast-growing city whose population is projected to nearly double over the next three decades, how do we plan for more people while respecting the residents who live here now, so that we get better not just bigger? Imagine Austin, the City’s comprehensive plan, provides us with a framework to address this growth and includes a recommendation to revise the City’s land development code.

Our existing land development code was written 30 years ago, when Austin’s population was half the size it is now. After three decades, the current code has become a patchwork of amendments and revised regulations which are outdated, overly complex, and inconsistent.

We need a new code to help us create the kinds of places we want and to help guide growth towards an accessible and affordable Austin for all.

What happened to all the public input collected during the CodeNEXT process?

We’re using it! We collected a lot of valuable feedback during the CodeNext process and that feedback helped develop Council's policy direction which is guiding us on creating the new Code. We are figuring out new methods of gathering feedback after we release the new draft. Stay tuned for more!