A border-crossing exploration of self-building for lower and middle income groups over the world, with particular emphasis on the regulation dilemma, exploring alternative ways of institutionalisation, place-making and urban design. Using a broad international comparative perspective that spans multiple countries across South America, Europe and Africa, contributors explore resident-led self-building for low and middle income groups in urban areas. Although social, economic and urban prosperity differs across these contexts, there exists a recurring tension between formal governance and self-regulation in building practices. Contributors examine the multi-faceted regulation dilemmas of self-building under the conditions of modernisation and consider alternative methods of institutionalisation, place-making and urban design, through reconceptualising the moral and managerial ownership of the city. Innovative in scope, this book provides an array of globalised solutions for navigating regulatory tensions in order to optimise sustainable development for the future.