1. Urban Law
Urban law is the collection of policies, laws, decisions and practices that govern the management and development of the urban environment. It is a broad and diverse field but one that justifies being considered collectively because of the interaction of its various elements within the single, inclusive but diverse, space that is the urban environment. Urban law has several important characteristics:
• It governs the key functions of towns and cities and reflects the rights and responsibilities of the residents and users of these urban areas. The functions are diverse, including urban planning, municipal finance, urban land administration and management, infrastructure provision, mobility and local economic development among others.
• It exists at various levels from internationally recognised rights, such as the right to housing, to national legislation and on to municipal rules or by-laws that often govern local issues such as the provision of services or the management of public space.
• Terminology may vary among countries, but law may be expressed through a variety of instruments that primarily fall within the three categories of: i) primary legislation; ii) subsidiary or delegated regulations (law made by powers conferred in primary legislation and usually including many forms of rules, codes, orders etc), and iii) also ‘softer’ instruments such as policies and administrative instructions of governments at all levels.
• It often has a dual character with an apparently neutral technical nature accompanied by a complex social aspect including the potential for differential impact on different groups within the urban environment. Impacts on vulnerable groups, such as the poor and the socially marginalized, being of particular concern.
• It must be considered in the context of the institutions and processes that are established by it or that are expected to implement it.