Shaping suburbia: the one-and-a-half-century evolution of setback regulations in American neighbourhood development
Name
CJUD_A_2619113_O.pdf
Size
5.73 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
024b8bb0731b9c52ea7bf2aa259b41c0
Author(s)
Zhu, Chenhao
Ben-Joseph, Eran
Date Issued
January 15, 2026
Journal
Journal of Urban Design
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Citation
Zhu, C., & Ben-Joseph, E. (2026). Shaping suburbia: the one-and-a-half-century evolution of setback regulations in American neighbourhood development. Journal of Urban Design, 1–27.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of setback regulations is vital to American neighbourhood development and ongoing zoning reform efforts; however, the topic remains underexplored. By examining zoning codes, historical documents, norms, and development plans, this study traces the evolution of setback regulations from the 19th century to the present. The results map out the historical trajectory of setback regulations, highlight their evolving roles in shaping neighbourhood development, and synthesize the regulatory and dimensional trends. Building on the findings, insights are offered into the multifaceted roles of setbacks, the implications of identified historical periods, and recommendations for innovating future setback regulations.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and Planning
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2026.2619113
