Abstract

Informality is a significant topic in Latin American urban processes, referring to the irregular and unplanned occupation of urban land. Despite extensive literature on informality, there is a lack of structured categorization of informal public spaces created by residents. This paper addresses this gap by introducing a typology of informal places and detailing the methodology for its validation. The case study focuses on Piura, Peru, which demonstrates diverse informal public spaces. The typology was validated through an inter-rater reliability test involving three external raters. After familiarizing themselves with Piura and its mapped locations, the raters randomly assessed 50 out of 496 places, following a quota procedure. They recorded their observations and suggested improvements to the typology. The reliability was evaluated using the Cohen’s kappa coefficient, comparing observed agreements to those expected by chance. This validation process refined the typology of informal places and provided insights into the characteristics of informal urban spaces. The findings could help explain the characteristics and patterns of informal urban spaces, which are crucial for comprehending contemporary urbanisation processes, particularly in the Global South, paving the way for further research on this crucial urban phenomenon. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.