Codes & Manuals

The central transect-based planning and regulatory tool supported by CATS and used by numerous urban design firms and municipal planning departments is the open source SmartCode. The SmartCode, a concise template released in 2003 and continually updated, is a model ordinance flexibly written for towns, cities, regions, and private developments. It requires calibration for local conditions. The SmartCode v9 and Manual was published to aid calibrators and planners and is available from New Urban News. SmartCode Version 10, due out in mid-2010, has a modular structure making it easier for a jurisdiction to assemble the precise code it needs.

The SmartCode differs from some other form-based codes in that its community-scale and block-scale articles are written explicitly for zoning. Zoning reform is essential to allow walkable mixed-use neighborhoods, thereby combatting sprawl, preserving open lands, and reducing energy use and carbon emissions.

Listed below are code files and manuals. Coming soon are different versions of the SmartCode pre-assembled for specific purposes. The latest InDesign, PDF, and Support Files for the base SmartCode may be downloaded here. Supplementary Modules for any transect-based planning or coding effort are available here. Titles listed without downloads are still in production.

Smartcode Files

SmartCode files in InDesign and Acrobat at SmartCode Central.

The following open source files were commissioned by CATS for municipalities who do not own Adobe InDesign. Please be aware that codes created from these files will not have all the capabilities of the InDesign files, but they should make the editable SmartCode accessible to many more planning departments than previously.

Excel File of SmartCode V9.2 Tables, Roger Eastman
download files

Excel File of 2008 Module Tables, Roger Eastman
download files

Word File of SmartCode v9.2 text
an editable Word file of Articles 1-5 and Article 7.
download file

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Other Transect-based Codes

The Transect Code, Chad Emerson, SmartCode Education Partners

A template for preparing a transect-based code that includes model regulatory provisions for certain code content and a framework for developing customized regulatory content for other code content. Incorporates some aspects of SmartCode v9.2 with less technical but legally-sound language.

Download Word file

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SmartCode Formats
coming soon

SmartCode Basic, Andrés Duany and Sandy Sorlien
an updated Version 9 base code.

SmartCode for Developers, Andrés Duany and Galina Tahchieva
Condensed Article 1, 3, and 5 for private & public/private projects

SmartCode for Infill, Andrés Duany
Condensed Article 1, 4, and 5 for municipalities

SmartCode Metric, Geoff Dyer
Canadian version of model code, metric system

Hyperlinked SmartCode, Juan Mullerat with Rachel Merson
a searchable electronic annotated manual of the base code.

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Handbooks and Regulatory Manuals

Public Works Manual, Peter Swift, Daisy Kone, Andrés Duany, Steve Mouzon, Bruce Donnelly

Light Imprint Handbook, Tom Low
available here

SmartCode Calibration Handbook, Sandy Sorlien

SmartCode and Transect FAQ, Bruce Donnelly

How to Design Greenfields, Andrés Duany

Regional Planning Handbook, Andrés Duany

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