Defenders of exclusionary zoning argue that if that institution is eliminated, neighborhoods will be overrun with multi-family housing. Quiet neighborhoods where children can play in the front yard will be transformed with increased traffic, denser housing, and a myriad of other ills. Zoning, they claim, is necessary to have the kind of neighborhood that they…
Defenders of exclusionary zoning argue that if that institution is eliminated, neighborhoods will be overrun with multi-family housing. Children will no longer be able to ride their bikes because of increased traffic, denser housing, and a myriad of other ills. Zoning, they claim, is necessary to have the kind of neighborhood that they desire. Non-coercive…
If you examine nearly any debate regarding government policy, almost all of the discussion revolves around government imposing more restrictions and controls on businesses and individuals. It might seem that proposals to eliminate single-family zoning (SFZ) are an exception and a move towards greater respect for individual rights. But that appearance is a mirage. Most…
When Joe Biden proposed withholding federal funds from municipalities that did not relax exclusionary zoning laws (aka single-family zoning), conservatives were quick to criticize the plan. Betsy McCaughey, former Lieutenant Governor of New York and one-time economic advisor to Donald Trump, called the proposal a “disastrous plan for America’s suburbs.” She went on to write,…
Cities across Texas are struggling with a severe shortage of low- and moderate-income housing. One of the primary causes is exclusionary zoning, i.e., single-family zoning, which makes duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and similar types of housing illegal. Fundamentally, the state’s housing shortage is being caused by violations of property rights—restrictions on how property owners can…
Those with a political agenda often distort facts to suit their purpose. Opponents of rezoning in New York City are an example. They claim that rezoning displaces people of color and are citing a report published by the Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH). That report concluded that, While displacement trends existed before the zoning…
Cities and counties in California are required to issue permits for a specific number of houses each year as a part of the state’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). The RHNA is calculated in cycles every four to eight years. There are specific goals for each income category: Very low-income Low-income Moderate-income Above moderate-income The…
Conservatives have been attacking Biden’s suggestion that single-family zoning laws be eliminated or relaxed. They frequently call this a war on the suburbs, which is completely inaccurate. More significantly, the conservative argument is itself an attack on property rights. Tucker Carlson serves as an example. Tucker takes exception to the claim that zoning has been…
A recent article on The Conversation asserts that “building more homes won’t solve the affordable housing problem for the millions of people who need it most.” While the authors acknowledge that we need more housing, they don’t believe that this is a sufficient solution. The authors present numerous facts to bolster their argument, but these…
One of the increasingly popular tactics that cities are using to address America’s housing shortage is to relax or eliminate single-family zoning (SFZ), also known as exclusionary zoning. Some of those same cities are also starting to use a different form of zoning—inclusionary zoning—to address the housing shortage. In short, this means shifting from mandatory…
When California legislators were considering two bills to allow for “upzoning” throughout the state, local government officials lobbied to defeat the bills. Though both bills passed, opponents haven’t given up. They have launched an initiative to repeal the laws and return mob rule to California. The primary argument being used by opponents of “upzoning” is…
Cindy Tucker runs a nonprofit in Calhoun, Georgia, called Tiny House Up. She wants to build tiny houses—about 600 square feet—to help address the city’s housing shortage. But the city won’t let her because its regulations require a minimum lot size of about 11,000 square feet and houses must be at least 1,150 square feet….