A Systematic Literature Review on Planning Elements for 15-Minute City Neighborhoods

The 15-minute city has become a significant urban planning concept focused on organizing daily life around proximity and active mobility. Despite its increasing prominence in academic and policy discussions, its foundational concepts and their connection to neighborhood planning remain unclear. This study conducted a systematic literature review of 32 peer-reviewed articles published between 2021 and 2025 to explore the definition of the 15-minute city, how neighborhoods are spatially defined, and which core elements are emphasized in empirical research. The findings indicate that the 15-minute city is typically defined as an urban area where residents can reach essential daily services within 10 to 20 minutes by walking or cycling. Neighborhoods are mainly viewed as functional, time-based units centered on residential locations rather than administrative boundaries. While earlier studies primarily focused on network- and time-based accessibility measurements, recent research has broadened its scope to include functional diversity, user behaviors, and social equity. This study identifies five interrelated planning elements: proximity, mobility, accessibility, diversity, and equity. Overall, the findings suggest a shift toward a more integrated and normative understanding of the 15-minute city as a model for inclusive and self-sufficient neighborhoods, emphasizing the necessity for equitable and context-sensitive planning strategies.