University of North Texas 
DENTON (UNT), Texas — Understanding the zoning rules that shape Texas communities
just got easier, thanks to faculty and students from the University of North Texas. Their work on the Texas Zoning Atlas, part of the National Zoning Atlas projects, makes complex housing and land-use regulations
accessible to policymakers, planners and the public.
For two years, the UNT team — including 11 faculty and students from the Departments
of Economics and Public Administration — focused on charting portions of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Using research, geographic
information systems (GIS) mapping and data processing, they helped build a detailed,
open-source database of zoning rules — from parking requirements to yard sizes.
“Zoning affects nearly every part of our daily lives, but the rules are often hard
to understand,” said Yang Zhou, assistant professor of economics and assistant director
of the UNT Economics Research Group. “By demystifying these policies, we empower city planners, academics and everyday
Texans to make informed decisions.”
The project wasn’t without its challenges. The team of researchers — which included
graduate and undergraduate students, high schoolers and students from UNT’s Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) — gathered detailed zoning information for the database. When much of the
data proved unavailable online, the team contacted dozens of municipalities to request
documents and convert them into GIS-compatible formats, ensuring the information could
be used effectively.
“It was an ambitious project,” said Michael Carroll, professor of economics and UNT
team research advisor. “Our team had to digitize materials and create geographic maps
that make the data usable.”
UNT students found the work valuable for personal and professional growth. Second-year
TAMS student Ashvath Jagtap, who plans to study information science, said the project
helped him learn how to analyze complex legal documents and zoning codes.
“I really strengthened my skills in data-gathering and analysis,” he said. “The project
taught me to attack problems from different angles.”
Siddhi Pawar, a UNT senior majoring in urban policy and planning, said the Texas Zoning
Atlas will have a positive impact on others.
“Zoning policies often create a divide between the public and decision-makers,” she
said. “This project bridges that gap, helping people advocate for zoning reforms.”
By making zoning information transparent and accessible, the Texas Zoning Atlas also
supports economic development across the state.
“If you’re trying to attract a business to Texas, zoning is critical,” Carroll said.
“This tool helps to identify the right sites and opens up opportunities.”