Publications

This publication explains the procedure for establishing a municipality's first zoning regulations, from the creation of a zoning commission to the publication of a summary...

This publication summarizes the various land use management tools which New York State municipalities can use to help deal with issues of community character and...

This document presents the nine factors which must be examined to determine whether it is in the public interest to subject a particular action of...

This essential publication is for municipal officials, attorneys, and planning boards. It has the complete text of relevant laws, including statutory changes from the 2010...

This document explains the rules and standards under which appeals may be taken to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and decisions made by the...

Moratorium laws temporarily suspend development approvals. This document describes situations in which moratoria are often used, the case law surrounding moratoria, and provides guidance for...

This guide is a collaborative project of the Departments of State and Environmental Conservation. It sets forth a simple, step-by-step process for preparing a local...

This publication examines significant court cases involving signs and constitutional rights, focusing on legitimate exercises of municipal sign control. It also reviews the processes of...

This document provides an overview of municipal authority to regulate the placement of manufactured homes.

This document provides a list of questions intended to assist communities in determining whether their existing zoning regulations are out of date or otherwise inadequate...