Understanding Buffalo’s Unified Development Ordinance and Zoning Standards

Since its adoption on January 3, 2017, the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO)-often referred to as the Buffalo Green Code-has served as the primary regulatory framework for land use and construction throughout the city. Replacing the 1953 zoning code after more than six decades, this legislation established the city's current requirements for building design, lot usage, and neighborhood planning. According to the City of Buffalo, the UDO functions as a form-based code, designed to dictate the physical character of buildings and their relationship to the streetscape rather than focusing solely on traditional land-use separations.

For residents and property owners, the code organizes the city into a variety of distinct zones, including 11 neighborhood zones, 10 district zones, and three corridor zones. These designations determine specific local standards for building frontage, façade design, parking requirements, and landscaping. The ordinance explicitly restricts the scale of new projects in certain areas to manage the pace and nature of redevelopment. For instance, in mixed-use commercial corridors such as Elmwood Avenue and Grant Street, new construction is limited to a maximum height of three stories. In contrast, five-story buildings are permitted exclusively along designated high-transit corridors, including Main Street and Delaware Avenue.

Navigating Local Development Regulations

The UDO also imposes strict limitations on the size and scope of commercial developments. New projects are capped at 3,500 square feet for the ground floor and 7,000 square feet in total overall space. To further control the intensity of large-scale redevelopment, the city restricts the combination of individual parcels to only two lots for any single new construction project.

Property owners looking to evaluate how these rules apply to their specific parcels can utilize the City of Buffalo Property Viewer, an online tool designed to help residents determine the zoning designation of any property. If a project requires a variance from these standards, property owners may request a zoning map amendment. These requests are reviewed by the City Planning Board, which is tasked with assessing applications within 30 days. As the city continues to operate under these established guidelines, the UDO remains the definitive set of rules for all new development activity, ensuring that construction projects align with the density and design requirements defined for Buffalo’s diverse neighborhoods.

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