This is my major problem as a renter in the US. The minimum code really is too minimum. The city ordinances also enforce high limits on walls in ways that preserve a baby boomer childhood era view of suburbs.

It'd suck less if it felt like E.G. noise and environmental pollution ordinances were ever enforced. (Break up those parties and stop people from doing trash burns / crappy fires during burn bans which are pretty much always...)

▲ Schiendelman 6 hours ago | parent [-]

If we relaxed our zoning, your low quality apartment would be much cheaper, and you would be able to afford something better.

	▲	mjevans 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I do strongly agree about specific kinds of relaxing. `* Clear and concise approvals process * No more NIMBY BS * Impact based assessment (similar to Japans) * Possibly goals to encourage desired types of use (but not hard LIMIT beyond disallowed!)` While at the same time, the quality of built items should be increased. That is the minimum code should reflect a value that produces a good quality of life for those in the buildings at a reasonable expenditure of resources over the lifetime of the building.