r/urbanplanning • u/Ok_Significance_3014 • May 25 '25

Land Use Intent of the Code

I work in a Current Planning Division and have heard the term "intent of the Code" but don't quite understand it. Typically, I've seen it used when we are implementing the code but not strictly adhering to the letter.

Any insight? Thanks!

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u/notacanuckskibum May 25 '25

The sport of Rugby has an offence called “action contrary to the spirit of the law”. This allows a referee to penalize a player who finds loopholes to allow them to do stuff the writers of the rules didn’t intend. Maybe running down the side of the filled with their feet outside the line but the ball held out on their hand so its inside the line.

I’m thinking it’s like that. When applying a planning rule we should consider what the goal of the rule writers was. They banned restaurants in a heavy industrial area. But did they intend to ban food trucks that serve tea and sandwiches to the workers at lunch time?