Abstract: Rapid urban population growth has led not only to an increasing demand for urban land, particularly for housing, but also for other various urban uses. And that in many countries, the increasing demand for land is affecting rural-urban fringes. This paper attempts to situate the rural-urban fringe within the urban context by reviewing literature and theories on urban land use. The review of literature is guided by the view that there is no single dominant theory or paradigm of land use change and development.