Built form refers to the height, volume and overall shape of a building as well as how the building interacts with streets and open spaces. Built form plays a crucial role in shaping the character of a place and affects overall quality of life. This means that the choices we make for built form can affect how we live, work, play, and move around in our communities. The following sections describe some common choices we can make around built form.

Setbacks are the distances between a building and the boundaries of the property it sits on. Setbacks can be between the building and the street (the front setback or "front yard"), or between two buildings (side and rear setbacks).

Pros of larger setbacks:

• Improved privacy
• Reduced noise from the street and neighbours
• More space for yards and open space around buildings

Cons of larger setbacks:

• Isolated and disconnected buildings, reducing neighbourhood feel
• Requiring more land per building, which is less affordable and creates spread out, sprawling communities.

Massing refers to the overall shape and volume of a building.

Wider block-style buildings:

• Easier and faster to build
• Accommodate a large number of residential units without going up in height
• Cast large, wide shadows that are slow-moving
• Wide shape can cause stronger wind gusts at the street level around the building
• Can be visually very impactful when standing in front of them, since they can block views along an entire street block
• Limit the amount of green space on a property

Towers on Podiums:

• Slightly more complex construction
• Accommodates a large number of residential units by going up in height, but reducing width
• Cast narrower shadows that move quickly
• Narrower shape has less of an impact on wind
• Podium roof provides opportunities for amenities such as recreation areas and green space

A building stepback is a recess or step-like feature in a building's facade on higher floors, creating a stepped or tiered appearance.

Pros of stepbacks:

• When used on tall buildings, stepbacks help ensure that enough sunlight reaches the street level
• Can make a building appear less massive and imposing

Cons of stepbacks:

• Can make construction more complex
• Reduces the amount of space available in the building for residential units

Parking in front of buildings:

• Easier access for vehicles
• Prioritizes vehicles over pedestrians
• Requires buildings to be setback further from street
• Buildings are detached from street life
• Parking lots are less inviting than greenspace or engaging street walls

Parking behind buildings:

• Creates a continuous streetscape
• Prioritizes pedestrians over vehicles
• Creates an inviting, interactive space along the street

Double driveways:

• Consumes large portion of front yard
• Emphasizes vehicles rather than people and place
• Reduces available greenspace
• Provides more off-street parking for vehicles and keeps parked vehicles off roads
• Encourages faster driving speeds due to open street

Single driveways with on-street parking:

• Larger front yards and open space
• Encourages less use of automobiles
• Creates more congestion on street with parked vehicles
• Encourages slower driving speeds due to narrower street space

Mixed density neighbourhood:

• Greater variation in housing options
• More creativity for building and neighbourhood design
• Allows more units to be constructed with more open space
• Can be tailored to create transit-oriented design
• Greater building heights

Low density neighbourhoods:

• Less choice in housing options
• Larger lots with larger homes such as single-detached dwellings
• Traditional suburban feel
• Ground oriented dwellings and reduced height
• Need to sprawl out and use more land to provide housing for the same population

Development fronting directly on the main transportation corridor:

• Creates a main street feel for both pedestrians and vehicles
• Can lead to more congestion along the road
• High vehicle traffic and pedestrian movement on the same street can lead to conflicts and safety issues
• Promotes walkability and interaction with commercial uses

Development fronting on service roads and side streets:

• Main street is dedicated to transportation only
• Buildings front onto quieter, more residential streets
• Can make the neighbourhood feel a little more disconnected
• Encourages driving through the neighourhood without stopping and interacting with businesses and residents

Low, Medium, and High-Density Buildings:

• Creates a more smooth transition between neighbourhoods of different densities
• Some streets would have blended streetscapes with a mix of different heights
• Addresses missing middle housing needs and provides more options

Low and High Density Buildings:

• Strong distinction between low- and high-density neighbourhoods
• Some streets would see highly contrasting building heights next to each other
• Residents must choose between high-rise apartment living or large homes, with no in-between