The ArcGIS Urban data model allows you to store your city's zoning code restrictions in an accessible and standardized manner. In ArcGIS Urban, you can configure zoning regulations on three levels:
- Zoning types and Land use types—This is where you typically define your zoning code restrictions, either for the entire city or for individual plans. See Work with zoning for more information.
- Overlays—Overlays allow you to override zoning code restrictions of an underlying zoning type. You can only define overlays in zoning plans; you cannot define them in land-use plans. See Work with overlays for more information.
- Parcels—You can set zoning restrictions on a parcel level. This overrides zoning restrictions defined in zoning or land-use types as well as in overlays. To do this, switch to the Parcel overrides tab in the zoning or land-use mode.
Note:
- Zoning regulations affect how the generated plausible buildings look. The building forms are also controlled by the settings on the building types. See Develop a parcel for more information.
- Zoning regulations have no impact on custom drawn building spaces. You can determine whether your custom buildings conflict with the regulations by enabling warning labels on the Options menu on the left side or checking the Building regulation section in the Development side panel. See Validate buildings against zoning regulations to learn more.
Basic zoning parameters
You can configure the following basic zoning parameters:
- Floors
- Height
- Substructure depth
- FAR (floor-area-ratio)
- Coverage
- Dwelling units density
- Allowed space use types including Target distribution
Note:
The following parameters do not influence how the generated plausible buildings look. They can be used to Validate buildings against zoning regulations.
- The Dwelling units density only affects the number of generated buildings for buildings of type dwelling unit. The parameter has no influence on the number of units built in regular buildings. See Work with building types to learn more about building types.
- The Allowed space use types parameter can affect the resulting design when you assign a building types mix to multiple parcels. It does not influence the generated buildings when you apply a single building type to one or multiple parcels. See Assign building types to learn more.
Tiers and setbacks
Setbacks define the minimal horizontal distance between the parcel edge and the edge of the generated plausible building. Setbacks have a start height and a setback value. You can define setback values depending on the orientation and street adjacency attribute of a parcel's edge. See Add and edit parcels to learn more about defining the orientation and the adjacency of parcel edges.
You can add multiple tiers to define setbacks at different start heights.
Note:
You can only define tiers and setbacks in zoning plans. They are not available in land-use plans.
Skyplanes
Skyplanes are imaginary planes that set an inclined boundary that a building is not allowed to penetrate. Skyplanes are defined by an angle with respect to the horizon. This allows you to generate sloped façades and buildings, which become narrower as their height increases. Using the vertical and horizontal offset values, you can define the starting point of the sloped façade.
You can set different skyplanes depending on the orientation and street adjacency attribute of a parcel edge. See Add and edit parcels to learn more about defining the edge orientation of parcel edges.
Note:
You can only define skyplanes in zoning plans. They are not available in land-use plans.