Chapter 1
How Houston grew without a master plan
Chapter 2
The hidden rules shaping the streets
Chapter 3
Living in the ultimate urban mix
Ch 1 · How Houston grew without a master plan
BETA
dash Build houses next to skyscrapers to learn how Houston grows without zoning laws.
Quiz
What body of water did Houston's founders use to establish the original trading post?
dash Houston No Zoning
No zoning in Houston city! (That's right!) / We build whatever we like! (Oh yeah!) / A skyscraper next to a bungalow home! (Oh-oh!)
dash Without zoning, land use in Houston is driven by economic demand and developer decisions.
Fun Fact
Houston zoning: Houston is the only major city in the United States without a formal zoning code.
Quiz
What is a common result of having no zoning laws on commercial businesses in Houston?
Glossary
zoning (noun)
The municipal regulation of the land and buildings in a community. Houston voters defeated proposals to establish this type of regulation in 1948, 1962, and 1993.
The municipal regulation of the land and buildings in a community. Houston voters defeated proposals to establish this type of regulation in 1948, 1962, and 1993.