Designs and Codes That Reduce Crime Around Multifamily Housing

A number of local agencies have converted anti-crime design concepts into local codes and guidelines for new development and redevelopment. The following examples have been implemented by jurisdictions:

• City of Watsonville, CA, “Livable Residential Design Guidelines,” 
  Excerpt — pgs. 23-26 (PDF, 412 KB).
• San Diego Southeastern Economic Development Corp., “Multi-Family Development Guidelines,” Chapter 7: Safety and Security. Guidelines available at SEDC’s web site:http://www.sedcinc.com/multifamily_housing.html.
• City of Salem, OR, “Development Design Handbook – Multifamily and Compact Residential Development,” 
  Excerpt — pg. 29 (PDF, 64 KB).
• City of Sacramento, CA, “Multi-Family Residential Design Principles,” 
  Excerpt — pgs. 6-28 (PDF, 316 KB).
• City of Overland Park, KS, “Multifamily Residential Design Guidelines and Standards,” 
  Excerpt — pgs. 23-24 (PDF, 120 KB).
• City of Santa Monica, CA, “Ocean Park Design Guidelines,” 
  Excerpt — pg. 24 (PDF, 172 KB).

Additional Guidelines:

• Alameda Waste Management Authority, “Multifamily Green Building Guidelines,” Excerpt — pgs. 18-21 (PDF, 320 KB).
  Complete Guidelines (http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=291)
• University of Minnesota, Design Center for American Urban Landscape, “Making Housing Home: A Design Guide for Site Planning Quality Housing,” Excerpt — pgs 23-28 (PDF, 1.6 MB).
• National Crime Prevention Council, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Guidelines (CPTED)
  (http://www.ncpc.org/ncpc/ncpc/?pg=5882-2006-2486)
• The Local Government Commission has prepared design guidelines for multifamily housing based on HUD’s Affordable Housing Design Advisor (http://www.designadvisor.org/) “Design Consideration Checklist” and the City of Sacramento’s Multifamily Residential Design Principles.

For more information about reducing crime around multifamily housing, read our 4-page “Designs and Codes that Reduce Crime around Multifamily Housing” fact sheet.