Code Studio prepared a unified development code for the City of Memphis and surrounding Shelby County. The unified development code is the first for the area, and incorporates the zoning and subdivision ordinances into one consolidated document. The Memphis and Shelby County planning region spans the full range of development intensity—from dense urban core to rural farmland. Subsequently, the new code accommodates a broad development typology while remaining easy-to-use by administrators, developers and the general public.

The new code is not just a rehash of the existing regulations. It represents a substantial shift in the approach to regulation—supported by a committee of developers, engineers, architects and planners—and draws on such recent efforts as Sustainable Shelby to provide a long-term foundation for new development patterns. The code not only enables smart infill, it improves the quality of development across the board, and integrates street and streetscape design with adjacent development.