Learning Planning Zoning 3 Credit Shana Sureck

Learn Planning & Zoning

How does zoning work? How can you influence the planning process in your community? Find the answers to these questions below, and learn more about planning and zoning, from land use boards and commissions to Housing Growth Plans and more.

Featured Resources

Land Use Commissioner Training

Training

Zoning for Affordable Housing Webinar

Policy

Civics For Life: Be Your Best Citizen

Training

Who Makes Planning Choices?

Report

Report

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In this series of policy briefs, the AEI Housing Center provides an overview of current challenges in the U.S. housing market, where constrained supply and high prices are burdening household budgets and preventing people from living where their best job opportunities are located.

Initiative Centers for Housing Opportunity
Topic Housing Affordability; Land Use; Zoning; Housing Development
Audience Officials
Region CT

Training

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An initiative of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, Civics for Life is an online resource center for multigenerational civics education, civil discourse and civic engagement.

Topic Community Organizing; Zoning
Audience Community Organizations; Officials; Residents
Region USA

Report

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The Urban Institute conducted a first-of-its-kind survey of land-use decisionmakers nationwide to collect and analyze data on the racial and gender characteristics, housing tenures, and occupations of land-use decision making board members across 482 jurisdictions and 601 land-use decision making bodies within the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.

Topic Zoning; Land Use
Audience Community Organizations; Officials; Residents
Region USA

Policy

View

“Missing Middle” Housing is multi-family structures that exist in harmony with single-family neighborhoods. Middle Housing is more walkable, sustainable, and attainable than single-family homes, promoting home ownership and rental options for everyone.

Initiative Centers for Housing Opportunity
Topic Housing Affordability; Zoning; Housing Development
Region USA

Training

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This training hosted by the Northwest Hills Council of Governments covers the basics of affordable housing, your Commission’s obligations under the CT Zoning Enabling Act (CGS 8-2) as it pertains to Housing Diversity, an overview of the Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Act (CGS 8-30g), your Commission’s obligations Under Fair Housing Act, and a summary of the Planning & Zoning related provisions in HB 8002 (An Act Concerning Housing Growth).

Initiative Centers for Housing Opportunity; Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity
Topic Housing Affordability; Zoning; Land Use
Audience Community Organizations; Officials
Region Litchfield County, CT

Report

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The Northwest Connecticut Affordable Housing and Conservation Collaboration was initiated in January 2024, with the goal of giving participating communities with the strategies, tools, and relationships to work together to support both local affordable housing efforts and conservation efforts.

Initiative Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity
Topic Housing Affordability; Land Use; Conservation
Audience Community Organizations; Officials; Residents
Region Litchfield County, CT

Report

View

A report from the Centers for Housing Opportunity, presents data on local land use boards and offers recommendations to increase and support civic participation in land use decision making

Initiative Centers for Housing Opportunity
Topic Housing Affordability; Zoning; Land Use
Audience Community Organizations; Officials; Residents
Region Fairfield County, CT

Policy

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A Community Land Trust (CLT) is focused on providing affordable housing for multiple generations with each unit of housing that is produced. This report details how CLTs work and where they currently operate in Connecticut.

Initiative Center for Housing Opportunity Eastern Connecticut; Fairfield County Center for Housing Opportunity; Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity; Centers for Housing Opportunity
Topic Land Use; Housing Development
Audience Community Organizations; Officials
Region Eastern CT; Fairfield County, CT; Litchfield County, CT

Report

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This Housing Needs Assessment offers data on housing, demographics, jobs, and income from the last two decades in New London, Tolland, and Windham Counties to illustrate past, present, and future trends in housing, as well as employment and education, which are closely related to housing.

Initiative Center for Housing Opportunity Eastern Connecticut
Topic Housing Affordability; Employment; Land Use; Workforce
Audience Community Organizations; Officials; Residents
Region Eastern CT

Report

View

See the new online Housing Needs Assessment tool for Litchfield County. Learn about the housing, demographic, and affordability data that is available for your town. See examples of how this tool can be used to support housing efforts in your community.

Initiative Centers for Housing Opportunity
Topic Housing Affordability; Land Use
Audience Community Organizations; Officials; Residents
Region Litchfield County, CT

Policy

View

Learn how short-term rentals like those on AirBnB and VRBO are affecting housing availability and affordability in our region, and how communities can address challenges around these units.

Initiative Centers for Housing Opportunity
Topic Housing Affordability; Land Use
Audience Community Organizations; Officials; Residents
Region Litchfield County, CT

Report

View

A panel of housing experts and policymakers to discuss the findings of a new report from the State of Connecticut on segregation and housing, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Initiative Centers for Housing Opportunity
Topic Land Use; Housing Affordability
Audience Community Organizations; Officials; Residents
Region CT

Policy

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This session covers topics including CGS 8-30g, Connecticut’s Zoning Enabling Act (PA 21-29), and other municipal zoning issues, as part of the 2022 Litchfield County Housing Affordability Summit.

Initiative Centers for Housing Opportunity
Topic Housing Affordability; Zoning
Audience Community Organizations; Officials; Residents
Region Litchfield County, CT

Training

View

Learn more about what affordable housing is, who needs it, your commission’s obligations under the Fair Housing Act, and other resources you may need to address housing needs in your town.

Initiative Centers for Housing Opportunity
Topic Housing Affordability; Land Use; Zoning
Audience Officials; Residents
Region Litchfield County, CT

Growing Participation on Planning & Zoning Commissions

Non-Profits Launch “Housing For All” Network to Support Grassroots Pro-Housing Movement in Connecticut

News

05.27.26

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Olivia McDonald ’26 wins the 2026 Anna Lord Strauss medal

In the Media

05.18.26

Several land use vacancies listed for Fairfield County municipalities

In the Media

05.18.26

What comes next after Connecticut's big housing law? Here are some possibilities

In the Media

02.03.26

Get informed and get involved.

Learn more and be a part of the solutions for homelessness and housing affordability in Connecticut.

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Learn Planning & Zoning

Featured Resources

Land Use Commissioner Training

Zoning for Affordable Housing Webinar

Civics For Life: Be Your Best Citizen

Who Makes Planning Choices?

Join the Housing for All Network

Get informed and get involved.