eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture 2328-3998 2019-08-30 7 4 181 189 10.12691/ajcea-7-4-5 AJCEA2019745 article Andrew F. Ebakpa 1 Warebi G. Brisibe briswares@yahoo.com 2 Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria Department of Architecture, Rivers State University, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria This study reveals how the unchecked process of development and city expansion leads to unplanned slum creation in inner city areas of Yenagoa, Nigeria. It explores the relationship between housing development and compliance with building and planning laws in the city. It uses methods like physical observation and case study in examining possible factors that may have contributed to inner city settlements becoming slums. The findings show that factors such as age and maintenance of building, building density, building orientation, and building materials amongst others, have aided in determining the quality of urban environment and ultimately creating slums in Yenagoa, albeit unintentionally. http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajcea/7/4/5/ajcea-7-4-5.pdf slums; planning regulations building laws housing development