Toward design of regulations for the built environment

Regulations for the built environment are as old as civilization, but we still lack a theory about how to design them. Regulations are artifacts, composed of rules that are self-reflexive, leading to complex combinations. A variety of fields (the law, general systems theory, expert systems, professional standards, and others) are consulted to glean suggestions that pertain to regulation design. A preliminary set of guidelines is offered for designing regulations.