Urban sprawl is a term used to describe the spreading of urban developments, such as houses and shopping centers, on undeveloped land near a city. It is characterized by low-density residential housing, single-use zoning, and increased reliance on private automobiles for transportation. Urban sprawl has been described as the unrestricted growth in many urban areas of housing, commercial development, and roads over large expanses of land, with little concern for urban planning. It is a form of unplanned urban and suburban development that takes place over a large area and creates a low-density environment with a high segregation between residential and commercial areas.

Urban sprawl is often seen as a problem in many parts of the world. It has been criticized for causing environmental degradation, intensifying segregation, and undermining the vitality of existing urban areas, and is attacked on aesthetic grounds. It has been correlated with increased energy use, pollution, and traffic congestion, and a decline in community distinctiveness and cohesiveness. Urban sprawl has become a major issue in many countries around the world, and it is often the result of poor planning and short-sightedness.