A Portrait of the Nation's Inclusionary Zoning Policies

The number of inclusionary zoning programs is growing quickly around the country. A recent study by the National Housing Conference takes stock of this prominent affordable housing tool.

1 minute read

July 21, 2016, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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"What Makes Inclusionary Zoning Happen, a study published last month by the National Housing Conference…shows why some communities are more likely to adopt Inclusionary Zoning policies than others," according to an article by Brian Stromberg.

The new study calls on past research by Hickey, Robert, Lisa Sturtevant, and Emily Thaden, which examined more than 500 inclusionary zoning housing programs in 482 local jurisdictions and produced a database of inclusionary zoning programs [pdf].

That database contributed to the new study's insights into the characteristics of inclusionary zoning programs around the country. Among those findings, supplemented by more detail in the article:

  • "More than 80 percent of the IZ programs in the database are mandatory"
  • "IZ programs target low- and moderate-income households."

The study also recommends several courses of action for inclusionary zoning advocates to better focus their efforts.

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