BETA
Chapter 1
The blueprint of Levittown
Chapter 2
The invisible rules of zoning
Chapter 3
The anatomy of the cul-de-sac
Chapter 4
The cost of suburban sprawl
YOUR GOAL
Master of Why American suburbs look alike
Ch 2 · The invisible rules of zoning
sloane American Suburb Zoning Rules
With single-family rules defining the space, Every street takes on a familiar face.
sloane Rules defining exactly how far a house must sit from the street created the classic suburban front lawn.
sloane Strict zoning laws made it illegal to build anything other than detached single-family homes in suburban residential zones.
Fun Fact
Lawn origins: The iconic American front lawn was popularized by 19th-century landscape designers to mimic English manor estates.
Glossary
zoning (noun)
The legislative division of a region into separate districts with different regulations regarding land use and building design. New York City enacted America's first comprehensive land use ordinance in 1916, establishing modern suburban setback rules.
The legislative division of a region into separate districts with different regulations regarding land use and building design. New York City enacted America's first comprehensive land use ordinance in 1916, establishing modern suburban setback rules.
Quiz
Which country's aristocratic estates inspired the look of the classic American suburban front lawn?
Quiz
Why are corner grocery stores and cafes usually illegal in modern American suburban neighborhoods?
Quiz
What is the standard term for zoning that strictly separates different land uses into isolated districts?
Quiz
What was the primary legal justification used by the Supreme Court to allow zoning in 1926?