The City of Kingston's Form-Based Zoning Code

The City of Kingston’s zoning code, called Kingston Forward, is a form-based code that regulates the location, design, alteration, occupancy, and use of structures and the use of land. It is designed to make it easier to develop in Kingston while protecting what makes our City so unique. The code was adopted on August 2, 2023. The code won the prestigious 2024 Congress for the New Urbanism Charter Award. Watch a video on the award here.

Some noteworthy priorities:

• Diversify housing types, prices, and locations
• Introduce new mandates and incentives for affordable housing
• Design streets for everyone, not just cars
• End minimum parking requirements in all transects
• Allow adaptive reuse of existing buildings
• Legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) Citywide
• Legalize neighborhood businesses and mixed-use development
• Ensure that new development contributes to the City’s historic urban form

To access the Form-Based Code and its Regulating Maps, please access the Online Zoning Portal to the right. A PDF version may also be found here.

To see the previous version of this page that describes the process leading up to adoption, see: engagekingston.com/kingston-forward-archive

Not sure where to start?

A zoning code regulates how land is used, what you can do with it, and what can be built.

In a form-based code, each parcel in the City is designated as a transect or special district. Each type of transect defines building form, the intensity of use, and what you can use a site for. The code divides Kingston into 5 transects that range from the least developed (T1) to the most developed (T5). Special districts are designed to capture specific and/or existing parts of the city. There are also overlays for other special cases (like historic districts or extra height opportunity) that may apply in addition to a site's transect or special district.

In addition to transect standards, a form-based code also has general standards that control characteristics, form, design standards, and incentives. Additional standards outline rules for specific parts of development like street design, usable open space, and large sites.

To understand what this means for you, you can begin by searching for a parcel in the interactive zoning map and looking at the property details on the left side of the page.

For more definitions, processes, and tips, see the City's development guide! This guide offers more information on how to use the form-based code. Additional materials and resources can also be found on the right-hand side in the "resources" section of this page.

As part of the adoption of the new zoning code, the City of Kingston has a goal to approve 1,000 new units of housing between 2024 and 2029. Progress toward this goal is tracked in the housing dashboard here.

I’ve reviewed the new zoning code and I’m ready to start my project.

Where do I go next?

If you’re creating or enlarging any building (except for a one, two- or three-family residence outside a historic district) or changing the use or the intensity of an existing use, or if you require a special permit, you’re likely going to need site plan approval. The form-based code has an expedited Minor Site Plan Review Process for qualifying projects and a Major Site Plan Review Process for everything else. Major site plans require review by the Planning Board. To start this process, fill out the pre-application determination form on the Planning Department’s page.

If you're putting in a new sign or replacing an existing sign, you should file a Signage Application with the Planning Office.

If you don’t need site plan approval, you can apply for a Building Permit online via the Building Safety Department. If you’re looking for a zoning code interpretation, you can contact the City’s Zoning Enforcement Officer at (845) 331-1217.