Digitizing Zoning, Unlocking Housing: How Boardman is Building the Future of Development

In cities across the country, zoning codes shape what can and can’t be built. But understanding those rules has long been one of the biggest barriers to getting projects off the ground and one of the biggest constraints on municipal capacity. The City of Boardman, Oregon, is changing that narrative.

This fall, Boardman became the latest community to launch a digital zoning platform powered by UrbanForm, giving developers, designers, and city staff instant access to accurate, verifiable zoning information for every one of the city’s 1,496 parcels.

It’s more than a map—it’s a leap forward in transparency, collaboration, and housing production.

“This is about giving our community a clear, shared foundation so every project starts on the same page,” said Carla McLane, Planning Official for the City of Boardman. “When zoning information is accurate and verified, everyone benefits.”

From Complexity to Clarity

Every construction project in America depends on zoning. But until recently, finding that information meant wading through PDFs, spreadsheets, and municipal documents, often taking days or weeks to confirm what was allowed on a site. UrbanForm simplifies this process. Our platform translates complex zoning code into simple, parcel-specific insights, instantly showing what can be built, what restrictions apply, and how to move forward with confidence.With Boardman’s new digital zoning map, accessible at boardman.urbanform.us, city staff and private developers can now collaborate from a single source of truth.

“It gives us the ability to respond more efficiently to applicants and keep projects on schedule,” said Glenn McIntire, Building Official for the City of Boardman. “I found it really intuitive, a joy to use.”

A Collaborative Model for Housing Innovation

This milestone is the result of a partnership between the City of Boardman, the Missing Middle Housing Fund (MMHF), and UrbanForm. Together, the team digitized local zoning codes, integrated additional overlays such as Urban Renewal Districts and Interchange Area Management Plan (IAMP) zones, and built a foundation for more efficient permitting and project management. The collaboration is a model for how public, private, and nonprofit partners can accelerate housing production while maintaining trust and transparency.

“By digitizing zoning at the parcel level, we’re removing uncertainty and opening the door to faster housing development,” said Nathan Wildfire, CEO of MMHF. “This is exactly how we scale housing across Oregon.”

Building Capacity and Trust in Rural Communities

For many rural municipalities, housing growth isn’t limited by will—it’s limited by capacity. Staff time is scarce, and permitting backlogs are common. By making zoning data instantly available, Boardman is improving both its efficiency and its ability to attract investment.

As UrbanForm CEO Quang Truong notes, this project is about more than technology:

“UrbanForm is not just about digitization—it’s about clarity, capacity, and collaboration. Boardman’s leadership is showing how rural communities can use digital tools to unlock housing potential and build trust between planners, developers, and residents.”

The Bigger Picture

Across Oregon, communities are exploring new ways to make housing more attainable. Zoning transparency is a key piece of that puzzle. UrbanForm’s work in Yamhill County, Coos, and now Boardman demonstrates how small cities can lead with innovation, modernizing the foundations of housing delivery one codebase at a time.The result is faster development, clearer communication, and stronger alignment between the public and private sectors, all essential ingredients for addressing Oregon’s housing challenges.

As Boardman’s new system goes live, it sends a powerful message: clarity creates capacity. And with the right tools, even small cities can lead the way toward a more efficient, affordable, and resilient housing future.