Check Out Our Passport Courses
Passport is your ticket to the training, experiences, and connections that will take you where you want to go in your planning career. Subscribe for unlimited access for one year to APA's extensive learning library of solution-oriented content facilitated by planners, for planners.
-
9 Ways to Make Green Infrastructure Work
November 2012by: Paul Winters, Corey Piasecki, Robert PiraniThis guide presents strategies for achieving both land use and water management goals with green infrastructure. -
Bourne, MA, Zoning Bylaw
Updated May 2017The town’s zoning bylaw encourages the use of low-impact development (LID) tactics for stormwater management in street design, parking design, and development in a Downtown District (“DTD”) and Marine Center Overlay District (“MCOD”). -
An Ordinance for a Conservation Subdivision
December 2000by: Brian Ohm, Carrie Hirsch, James LaGroThis model ordinance provides background information and a template to help communities regulate conservation subdivisions. -
Critical Lands Planning Toolkit for the State of Utah
2005This guide focuses on equipping communities to plan for critical lands while balancing conservation and development in Utah. -
Model Conservation Subdivision Ordinance
2012This model ordinance provides a template for cities and counties in Georgia draft conservation subdivision design regulations to protect sensitive natural resources. -
Tolland, CT, Low Impact Development and Stormwater Management Design Manual
July 2011This guide presents a technical framework for implementing low-impact development (LID) tactics to improve surface water and ground water quality. -
Fishers, IN, Fishers 2040
Adopted June 2016The city’s comprehensive plan encourages the use and preservation of greenways, green infrastructure, and low-impact development (LID) in park space. -
Corvallis, OR, Comprehensive Plan
Updated 2016The city's comprehensive plan belongs to the Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Hazard Mitigation, and Solar Energy collections. -
Douglas County, CO, Comprehensive Master Plan 2040
Adopted August 2019The county’s comprehensive plan includes extensive hazard mitigation policy recommendations in its Environmental Quality section. -
Kings County, CA, General Plan
Updated January 2016The county’s comprehensive plan belongs to the Built Environment and Health and Hazard Mitigation collections.. -
Linn County, IA, Comprehensive Plan 2013: A Smarter Course
Adopted July 2013The county’s comprehensive plan belongs to the Hazard Mitigation and Wind Energy collections. -
Lac du Flambeau Tribe [WI] Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Updated August 2019This functional plan details a hazard mitigation strategy for a tribal authority. -
Gretna, LA, Unified Development Code
Updated June 2020The city's unified development code belongs to the Solar Energy and Green Stormwater Infrastructure collections. -
Searching for the Good Plan: A Meta-Analysis of Plan Quality Studies
Journal of Planning Literature, 23(3): 227–240, 2009by: Philip Berke, David Godschalk, FAICPThis article discusses plan quality evaluation, an emerging methodology for assessing the quality of plans. -
10 Keys to Making A Great City Plan
September 2015by: Brent ToderianIn this blog post, the author offers an impromptu "top ten" list of tips for making a great plan. -
Comprehensive Planning: A Manual for Maine Communities
2005by: Evan Richert, AICP, Sylvia MostThis guide from the Maine State Planning Office was written to help communities in Maine prepare comprehensive plans to manage growth under the state's Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Act. -
Under Construction: Tools and Techniques for Local Planning
2002by: Minnesota PlanningThis guide from Minnesota Planning is intended as an easy-to-use reference to the comprehensive planning process for local governments and communities. -
Sea Level Rise Ready: Model Comprehensive Plan Goals, Objectives and Policies, to Address Sea-Level Rise Impacts in Florida
May 2010by: Krystle Macadangdang, Melissa NewmonsThis model policy document belongs to the Comprehensive Planning and Hazard Mitigation collections. -
Model Comprehensive Plan Policies and Model Ordinances to Implement the Livability Principles
June 2012by: Chris Evans, Margaret StinchcombThis model policy document from the University of Minnesota School of Law was written to help Minnesota communities implement the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities' Livability Principles. -
Preparing for the Comprehensive Planning Process
2001by: Michael KolesThis briefing paper offers guidance to Wisconsin communities in how to prepare for the comprehensive planning process. -
Comprehensive Planning for Small Texas Cities
Second Edition, 2002by: Texas Office of Rural Community AffairsThis guide from the Texas Office of Rural Community Affairs is an easy-to-read guide to the development of a planning program. -
The Water Resources Element: Planning for Water Supply and Wastewater and Stormwater Management
Managing Maryland's Growth Models & Guidelines 26, 2007This guide was written for Maryland communities to assist them in developing a water resources element for comprehensive plans, thus meeting a state planning requirement. -
Wisconsin Library of Comprehensive Plans
2017This web page, maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, links to a downloadable spreadsheet of more than 1,400 local comprehensive plans in Wisconsin, including county, municipal, tribal, and regional plans. -
State of California General Plan Guidelines
2017by: California St Ofc Plng/ResearchThis guide is a reference for cities and counties in California in the preparation of local general plans and is written for planning staff as well as elected officials, planning consultants, and the general public. -
Baltimore County, MD, Master Plan 2020
Revised March 2018This county's comprehensive plan focuses on sustainability achieved through an approach that considers community, economy, and environment. -
Integrating Food Policy in Comprehensive Planning: Strategies and Resources for the City of Seattle
August 2012by: Puget Sound Regional CouncilThis case study and guide belongs to the Comprehensive Planning and Food Systems collections. -
Housing Wisconsin: A Guide to Preparing the Housing Element of a Local Comprehensive Plan
June 2003by: Brian Ohm, John Merrill, Joni HerrenThis guide belongs to the Comprehensive Planning and Housing Needs Assessment collections. -
Planning for Natural Resources: A Guide to Including Natural Resources in Local Comprehensive Planning
2002by: Brian OhmThis guide, created to help Wisconsin municipalities meet state planning requirements, summarizes how local communities can address natural resources in their comprehensive plans. -
Implementation Element Guide
2006by: Anna Haines, Kassandra Walbrun, AICP, Amy EmeryThis guide, created to help Wisconsin municipalities meet state planning requirements, covers the preparation of the implementation element, often one of the weakest areas of comprehensive plans. -
Land Use Resource Guide: A Guide to Preparing the Land Use Element of a Local Comprehensive Plan
2005by: Anna Haines, Kassandra Walbrun, AICP, Sarah KempThis guide, created to help Wisconsin municipalities meet state planning requirements, covers the preparation of the land-use element of the comprehensive plan. -
Transportation Planning Resource Guide: A Guide to Preparing the Transportation Element of a Local Comprehensive Plan
March 2001This guide, created to help Wisconsin municipalities meet state planning requirements, covers how to develop the transportation element of the local comprehensive plan. -
Florida TOD Guidebook
2012by: Treasure Coast Regional Planning CouncilThis guide and model policy document belongs to the Comprehensive Planning and Transit-Oriented Development collections. -
Complete Streets Policies at the Local Level: Model Comprehensive Plan Language, Model Local Ordinance, and Model Local Resolution
February 2010This model policy document is part of the Complete Streets and Comprehensive Planning collections. -
Healthy Communities: The Comprehensive Plan Assessment Tool
2010by: Claire BeckThis model comprehensive plan assessment tool is designed to guide municipalities in creating comprehensive plans that clearly articulate goals and strategies for providing their residents with more opportunities to live healthier lives. -
Comprehensive Planning Information Sheets
2008by: Design for HealthThis clearinghouse website offers links to the Design for Health Information Sheets series, which offers strategies for incorporating a wide range of health considerations into comprehensive plans and ordinances. -
Comprehensive Plan Review Checklists
2007by: Design for HealthThis guide and model policy tool from the University of Minnesota's Design for Health project includes a checklist and audit tool designed for communities to evaluate comprehensive plans. -
A Guide to Preparing the Economic Development Element of a Comprehensive Plan
August 2003This guide, created to help Wisconsin municipalities meet state planning requirements, covers how to create the economic development element of the comprehensive plan. -
Intergovernmental Cooperation: A Guide to Preparing the Intergovernmental Cooperation Element of a Local Comprehensive Plan
2002by: Erich Schmidtke, Jonquil JohnstonThis guide, created to help Wisconsin municipalities meet state planning requirements, covers the preparation of the intergovernmental element of the comprehensive plan. -
Strategies for Sustainable Communities: A Guidebook Based on California Community Types
2010This guide from the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research offers succinct guidance on how to address sustainability considerations in the comprehensive planning process. -
Livable Communities: Model Comprehensive Plan Objectives and Policies
2007by: Pinellas County Planning DeptThis guide and model policy document from the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization in Florida presents the four principles for creating livable communities: Density, Diversity, Design, and Destinations. -
Draft Comprehensive Plan Model Policies for Transit Oriented Development
2010by: Tampa Bay Area Regional Planning AuthorityThis model policy document is Appendix A in SMART Connect: Sarasota-Manatee Area Regional Transit Study by the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority Land Use Working Group. -
Taft, CA, Municipal Code
Updated May 2020The city's zoning ordinance addresses solar energy systems as well as solar generating plants, and provides design standards for solar energy systems and site design. -
Nye County, NV, Comprehensive Master Plan
Adopted June 2011The county's master plan discusses solar energy resources and offers goals, objectives, and policies that promote the use of solar and other alternative energy sources. -
Neversink, NY, Town Code
Updated January 2019The town's zoning code defines and regulates small and large solar energy systems. -
Nye County, NV, County Code
Updated February 2020This ordinance allows renewable energy generating facilities for off-site energy use in the light industrial zoning district and allows solar farms of up to 20 MW in the rural homestead district. -
Pima County, AZ, Code of Ordinances
Updated September 2020The county's zoning code permits accessory solar energy systems in all districts subject to standards and permits utility scale solar energy systems either by right or as a conditional use based on district; the code also creates a Renewable Energy Incentive District to promote utility-scale solar energy development. -
St. Peters, MO, Municipal Code
Updated October 2020The city's zoning code includes supplementary regulations for solar panel systems and permits primary solar panels systems as special uses in industrial and special districts. -
Vista, CA, Development Code
Updated September 2019The city's development code provides some regulatory flexibility to accommodate solar energy systems. -
South Salt Lake, UT, Code of Ordinances
Updated October 2020The city's zoning ordinance permits solar utilities as conditional uses in all nonresidential districts; PUD regulations encourage solar panel use and solar-ready development. -
RE-Powering Tracking Matrix
October 2020This report and accompanying workbook provides information about completed solar and wind projects on contaminated sites.