Model Ordinance Library
Annotated example ordinances for stormwater, buffers, erosion control and source-water protection — language municipalities can adapt.
Sinkhole Protection
Lexington-Fayette County's sinkhole ordinance is a long-standing model for regulating development in karst terrain to protect groundwater.
Model OrdinanceLake Travis Nonpoint Source Pollution
The Lower Colorado River Authority's Lake Travis ordinance controls nonpoint source pollution from development around a major Texas reservoir.
Model OrdinanceCroton Watershed Protection
Watershed protection in the Croton system: how Croton-on-Hudson's local law safeguards water resources inside New York City's drinking water watershed.
Model OrdinanceSource Water Protection
Overlay-district ordinances that protect drinking water sources, from Skaneateles Lake's watershed overlay to watershed protection districts elsewhere.
Model OrdinanceStream Buffers
A model stream buffer ordinance establishing three-zone riparian buffers, with width standards, use restrictions, and guidance for local adaptation.
Model OrdinanceIllicit Connections
Illicit discharge detection and elimination ordinances, led by Fort Worth's nationally recognized stormwater protection code, plus companion approaches.
Model OrdinanceNapa County Stream Buffers
The City of Napa's riparian habitat ordinance applies a 50-foot streamside buffer along the Napa River and named creeks, paired with habitat management plans.
Model OrdinanceForest Conservation
How a forest conservation ordinance ties tree retention to land development: stand delineation, conservation thresholds, and replanting obligations.
Model OrdinanceOpen Space Development
Model zoning language for open space (cluster) development: density-neutral lots, open space set-asides, and long-term ownership arrangements.
Model OrdinanceWetlands Protection
Croton-on-Hudson's wetlands and watercourses law shows how a municipality can regulate wetland activities through controlled areas and local permits.
Model Ordinance