Arizona Enters the Upzoning Fray

A proposed bill in the Arizona state legislature "would add tens of millions of dollars to the state's low-income housing trust fund," reports Morgan Loew. But, in an unsurprising move, the bill has drawn criticism for its proposed adjustments to the state's zoning laws from opponents who worry about the effects of eliminating single-family zoning. "The bill would require municipalities to allow eight single-family dwellings per acre or 12 two-family dwelling units per acre on other specified land, regardless of current residential zoning."

Single-family zoning has recently been in the crosshairs of many local and state lawmakers as the housing market becomes increasingly unaffordable for many American families. Critics of single-family zoning argue that the designation has a long history of being used to exclude low-income and minority groups, encourages sprawl, and keeps the housing supply unsustainably low. Around the country, cities and states have eliminated single-family zoning as part of efforts to boost housing construction and encourage higher density and infill development, legalizing more housing types such as duplexes and accessory dwelling units (also known as 'missing middle housing').