Zoning Reform

Quincy Market

Op-Ed: Boston Needs Zoning Reform Now

The Boston Globe’s editorial board calls on the city to take on citywide zoning reform to boost housing construction and revitalize areas that have faced historical underinvestment.

February 21, 2023 - The Boston Globe

An aerial view of New Jersey suburbs, with Manhattan and New York City in the distant background.

New York Housing Plan Emphasizes Zoning Reform, Transit-Oriented Development

Governor Hochul’s proposed housing plan features policies inspired by recent housing reforms in states like California, Massachusetts, and Utah.

February 15, 2023 - The New York Times

Suburban houses against colorful sunset sky in Waukesha, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Workers Struggle to Find Affordable Housing

The state is facing a workforce housing shortage and rising costs, but some cities and towns make it difficult to build new housing near jobs.

February 2, 2023 - Urban Milwaukee

Aerial view of MBTA commuter rail station in Concord, Massachusetts among green trees

Massachusetts Zoning Reform Law Reaches First Deadline

Cities and towns had until January 31 to submit their draft plans for rezoning areas near transit stations to comply with a new state law.

February 1, 2023 - Streetsblog Mass

Construction site with 4-story apartment buildings in progress

Survey: Most Mayors Fail to Link Zoning and Homelessness

Despite the powerful impact of local land use and zoning policies on housing costs and supply, many U.S. mayors believe they have little control over homelessness in their cities.

January 31, 2023 - Governing

New York City skyline with construction cranes in foreground

NYC Mayor Adams Proposes Ambitious Housing Agenda in State of the City Address

Housing is one of four “pillars” proposed by Mayor Eric Adams in his “Working People’s Agenda.”

January 30, 2023 - NYC Office of the Mayor

Granny Flat

Pre-Approved ADUs Now Available in Sacramento

The city of Sacramento is making it easier to develop accessory dwelling units.

January 25, 2023 - CBS Sacramento

San Francisco Residential Neighborhoods

San Francisco Plans for 82,000 New Housing Units

California housing regulators have granted preliminary approval for the city of San Francisco’s housing element as mandated by the state’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation process.

January 24, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

Aerial view of dense single-family homes in neighborhood still under construction

How Virginia Counties Use Zoning to Stifle Development

Some state legislators are proposing action at the state level as counties block development using zoning and development requirements even as housing prices rise sharply in the region.

January 23, 2023 - The Virginia Mercury

Aerial view of Decatur, Georgia with cloudy sky

Decatur Moves Closer to Legalizing Duplexes, ‘Missing Middle Housing’

A proposal to permit multifamily housing units in areas previously zoned for single-family homes passed its first hurdle, but requires a second vote to go into effect.

January 19, 2023 - Decaturish

Hillsborough River

Op-Ed: Tampa Bay Needs More, Denser Housing

With rents skyrocketing and the region facing a steep housing shortage, housing advocates argue now is the time for zoning reform that encourages missing middle housing and transit-oriented development.

January 18, 2023 - Tampa Bay Times

Early morning view of new neighborhoods and Route 215 from the top of Lone Mountain in Northwest Las Vegas.

Zoning Has Support for Sprawl: Subdivision, Covenants, and Mortgages

Zoning codes are not the only kind of land use control that has built the U.S. residential market on the suburban model for more than a century, according to a recent article in The Urbanist.

January 17, 2023 - The Urbanist

Aerial view of homes with downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin in background

Report: Wisconsin Zoning Rules Hold Back Housing Production

Updating zoning regulations would help the state meet its housing goals and encourage the construction of a broader variety of housing types.

January 16, 2023 - Wisconsin Public Radio

Albany

New York Governor Takes a YIMBY Turn

Governor Kathy Hochul wants to build 800,000 new homes in New York in the next decade.

January 16, 2023 - Governor Kathy Hochul

Buildings on Wall Street, New York City

NYC Mayor Proposes Office Conversion Plan

Proposed zoning updates that would make it easier to convert office buildings in commercial districts to housing and other uses could yield up to 20,000 new housing units in the next decade.

January 12, 2023 - Gothamist

Los Angeles, California

City Council Controversy Threatens L.A.’s Proposed Downtown Plan

A Los Angeles Times editorial explains how political intrigue is spilling over into planning frustration in the city of Los Angeles.

January 11, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Portland Condo High-Rise

Zoning Reform: New Politics, Same Old Challenges

The political will for zoning reforms has never been stronger. The traditional opponents of development, however, are still finding ways to push back.

January 11, 2023 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Aerial view of waterfront houses in Seattle, Washington

How Zoning Changes Could Boost Housing Supply in Seattle

The Puget Sound region could benefit from zoning tweaks that would encourage more transit-oriented development and ‘gentle’ density increases, new research finds.

January 9, 2023 - Urban Institute

Apartment buildings under construction with crane.

Federal Grants to Fund Zoning Reform Efforts

The ‘Yes In My Backyard’ grants are designed to help cities identify the most effective avenues for increasing density and spurring more housing construction in historically reluctant neighborhoods.

January 9, 2023 - Route Fifty

6th Street Viaduct against the Los Angeles skyline at dusk

L.A. Planning Department Adjusts to State Housing Laws

Los Angeles Director of Planning Vince Bertoni was recently interviewed the effects of new state planning and housing laws in the state’s most populous city.

January 3, 2023 - The Planning Report

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.