Land Planning Standards
An important component in implementing effective best management practices for stormwater management is the regulatory context for land development.
Ironically, many traditional development codes and regulations actually prohibit the use of new practices. For example, narrower streets and vegetated swales in residential neighborhoods effectively reduce and control stormwater, yet wider streets and curb/gutter with storm drain inlets have often been required as the standard for public safety.
Land Planning Standards are changing, and there are many good examples that have been rewritten to provide a stronger framework for land development that integrates green stormwater management practices. The following list contains examples of planning standards updates.