The inventor of the term missing middle housing has advice on writing zoning codes that effectively deliver on the potential of the tool.

According to a February article by Dan Parolek, recent legislative efforts to legalize missing middle housing (e.g., the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Oregon’s HB 2001) illustrate how “Missing Middle Housing can go a long way toward meeting housing needs in a variety of places.”
Parolek, credited with coining the term missing middle housing, writes here to offer a few tips to ensure that zoning changes designed to make new space fo missing middle housing will achieve the desired goals of increasing the number of housing units, addressing the high cost of housing, and not letting that new density also mean huge new buildings.
Parolek lists six tips in total, listed here, but also with a lot more detail in the source article.
- Regulate maximum building envelope/form & scale rather than number of units/density
- Carefully regulate building width and depth
- Be careful about allowed height
- Do not allow townhouses or single-family detached homes in which the ground floor is mostly parking
- Some single-family contexts are better than others for Missing Middle Housing
- Communication and framing tips
FULL STORY: Best practices for ending exclusive single-family zoning

Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects
Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.

The Unceremonious Death of a Freeway Expansion Project
The end of an Oregon freeway project didn't get much fanfare, but the victory is worth celebrating.

Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’
A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?

Kaua’i County Uses Long-Range Models to Mandate Resiliency Standards
The county requires builders to assess potential flood risks using models that account for sea level rise projected as far out as 2100.

California Governor Vetoes Autonomous Truck Ban
Gov. Newsom called the new law unnecessary, citing existing efforts by state regulators to develop new rules around autonomous trucking.

Low-Barrier Motel Shelter Is a Success—But Not an Easy One
Many guests at Motels4Now are on their second or third stays—but staff say that's doesn't equal failure, and the numbers bear that out.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
Lassen County Planning and Building Services
City of San Carlos
National Capital Planning Commission
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.