Changing Regulations Zoning laws, building codes, and other regulations are mandated by state and local government bodies. Developers should be familiar with zoning laws and building codes before pre-development. In most geographic areas, this information is available to the public on government websites or through city and town halls. Teams can also reach out to planning departments or commissions to build relationships, discuss a specific project, and get information about potential changes coming up on state and local government dockets. By doing so, developers can remain agile in case new regulations come into effect over the lifecycle of a project. Contingency planning and being open to design alternatives can also help developers adapt in line with changing regulations without disrupting the project timeline. Maintaining positive relationships with planning departments and local stakeholders can also benefit developers, allowing for exceptions or compromises to be met more quickly. Hosting public forums to communicate directly with the public and hear any concerns or questions can make the zoning or regulatory approval process move faster and more smoothly as well. 07