Upzoning

Small gray backyard cottage with glass door and bike sitting in front of it

ADU Demand Grows Across the West Coast

In communities from California to Washington, permit applications for accessory dwelling units outpace the ability of permitting and construction to keep pace.

July 14, 2023 - Cottage ADU

Aerial view from behind Texas State Capitol dome in Austin, Texas

Zoning Reform Proposed in Austin

Proposed changes would create more room for mid-density housing and shift away from single-family homes on large lots.

July 13, 2023 - Towers

Dusk view of downtown Edmonton, Canada skyline with arched white bridge in foreground

Edmonton to Revise Zoning Code

Proposed changes could help spur more housing development in the Canadian city and encourage density increases in residential neighborhoods.

June 29, 2023 - Edmonton Journal

Aerial view of graded dirt lot ready for construction and houses with mountains in background near Boise, Idaho

Boise Approves First Zoning Code Update in 60 Years

A comprehensive update of the city’s zoning code aimed at making housing more affordable and promoting sustainable growth received unanimous support from the city council.

June 18, 2023 - Boise Dev

Zoning Code Rendering

Where Permissive Zoning Codes Slowed Rent Growth

Recent analysis from the Pew Research Center identifies more support for zoning reform as a tool for maintaining the affordability of rental housing in U.S. cities.

May 15, 2023 - Pew Research Center

Texas Capitol Building

Bill Legalizing ADUs Passes Texas Senate

If passed by the full state legislature, the bill would eliminate local restrictions on ‘mother-in-law’ units.

May 1, 2023 - FOX 4 News

View of houses on small street in Raleigh, North Carolina against a sunset sky

North Carolina’s Triangle Faces Growing Pains

The region’s rapid growth and high housing costs are prompting a contentious debate over zoning changes that would boost density.

April 27, 2023 - Axios

Curvy street lined with houses in Issaquah Highlands outside Seattle, Washington

Wealthy Washington Neighborhoods Could Remain Untouched by Zoning Reforms

Neighborhoods with preexisting internal contracts are exempted from new legislation requiring all Washington cities to permit duplexes and other ‘missing middle housing.’

April 26, 2023 - The Seattle Times

Aerial view at dusk of downtown Austin, Texas with river in foreground

New Zoning Category Proposed in Austin

The ‘town zoning’ category would create more flexibility and encourage developers to build more affordable, transit-oriented housing.

April 24, 2023 - Austin Business Journal

Seattle Apartments

Cities Need More Family-Oriented Housing

For many young families, it’s simply impossible to find affordable housing in cities, leading them to the suburbs not by choice, but by necessity.

April 24, 2023 - Vox

Gainesville, Florida skyline with tall water tower against cloudy sunset sky

Gainesville Reverses Zoning Reforms, Reinstates Single-Family Zoning

The Florida city will be the first in the country to rescing zoning changes that would have created opportunities for a wider variety of housing options in residential neighborhoods.

April 21, 2023 - WUFT

Row of white two-story townhomes with black trim

Zoning Reforms Slow to Benefit Renters

Households seeking lower-cost rental housing units are not seeing housing supply go up as quickly as higher-income families after upzoning.

April 20, 2023 - Route Fifty

An image of St. Paul, Minnesota and the Mississippi River at nightfall.

St. Paul To Consider ‘Missing Middle’ Upzoning

Facing an affordability crisis, the city will weigh zoning changes that would permit duplexes and other multifamily housing types in single-family neighborhoods.

April 17, 2023 - Pioneer Press

Peachtree Street Atlanta

Metro Atlanta Cities Weigh Zoning Changes

The southern city’s growth is prompting questions about how to increase the housing supply, maintain affordability, and accommodate new residents.

April 11, 2023 - Atlanta Civic Circle

Multistory wood frame apartment building under construction against blue sky

Upzoning Modestly Increases Housing Supply and Affordability, Study Says

A new study by researchers at the Urban Institute finds new evidence that upzoning produces housing supply and reduces costs, while downzoning does the opposite.

April 9, 2023 - Urban Institute

Zoning Code Rendering

Minneapolis Comprehensive Plan Still Searching for Zoning Alignment

The vision set forth in one of the most ambitious and groundbreaking comprehensive plans in recent memory has yet to align with the practical realities of zoning in Minneapolis.

April 9, 2023 - Star Tribune

Row of modern red brick townhomes on street with sidewalk and young trees

The Role of Language in the Battle Over Zoning Reform

Missing middle housing? Ending single-family zoning? How language impacts public opinion in the movement to increase housing density.

December 14, 2022 - The Washington Post

Row of white two-story townhomes with black trim

When Zoning Reform Isn’t Enough: How To Boost Missing Middle Housing

For upzoning efforts to result in a significant rise in new housing units, cities and states must do more than just change zoning codes to ensure missing middle housing is easy and affordable to build.

December 13, 2022 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Multistory wood frame apartment building under construction against blue sky

The Misperceptions Restricting the Housing Supply

How local attitudes toward zoning reform hinder efforts to boost housing production.

December 1, 2022 - City Journal

A picture of a decorative sign announcing “The Domain” surrounded by high density shops and apartments.

New Building Heights Approved for Austin

A zoning change has increase height limits from 308 feet to 420 feet for new buildings near the city’s MLS stadium.

November 7, 2022 - Austin Monitor

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