Recodification of the Latin American City: Emerging Urban Legislation in the Pandemic Era

Abstract

In recent years, urban policies have been transformed in response to the pandemic. The new normality has translated into a new urbanity, in the broadest sense of the word; that is, into new rules that shape daily life and the production of urban space itself. However, in Latin America, most of these measures have been contingent on the emergency, as they have not been translated into structural or long-term policies.  This research focuses on the changes experienced in urban legislation as of 2020. Period where national governments had to simultaneously confront health problems and pre-existing urban dysfunctionalities. This is a descriptive study outlining the landscape of emerging urban policies. It focuses on visible changes at the Latin American level,  The results reveal that many Latin American countries have changed their urban policies during the pandemic, including a growing interest in social housing. Among the issues addressed are land regulation, the right to the city, the management of public spaces, informal settlements, etc. In conclusion, the pandemic was the scene of a change of course based on new urban policies. These policies improve the management of our cities and make it possible to build more sustainable and equitable spaces.