Which statement about form-based codes is accurate?

• A. They focus on energy efficiency as the primary objective.
• B. They ignore streetscape.
• C. They are identical to traditional zoning.
• D. They focus on form and streetscapes to create predictable streetscapes.

Answer: (D)

Form-based codes regulate the built form and the street environment rather than focusing primarily on what uses are allowed inside buildings. They specify how buildings relate to the street—things like the continuous street wall, ground-floor transparency, facade rhythm, height, setbacks, and alignment of entrances—so the public realm along streets becomes legible and predictable. The aim is to create a walkable, human-scaled streetscape where the appearance and relationship of buildings to the street are predictable across blocks, even as different uses may vary inside. This emphasis on form and the street edge is what makes form-based codes different from traditional zoning, which centers more on land use and density. While sustainability can be incorporated, energy efficiency is not the primary objective.