Bipartisan Support Grows for Zoning Reforms to Ease Housing Shortage and Skyrocketing Costs
• Public support is growing for zoning reforms to allow more housing development, according to a new Pew poll. The reforms include allowing accessory dwelling units, duplexes, multifamily units, and transit-oriented development.
• Bipartisan political momentum is building at state and local levels to change restrictive zoning laws and other policies that limit housing construction.
• Housing prices and rents have skyrocketed nationally due to a severe shortage of 6.5 million homes relative to demand.
• Despite general support for more housing, some local opposition remains regarding specific developments. Overcoming the "not in my backyard" mentality poses a challenge.
• Reforms to single-family zoning in Minneapolis and 3 other cities helped slow rent growth, while surrounding areas saw larger rent increases, demonstrating the policy's effectiveness according to one study.