Multifamily Housing
![Google street view of white parking garage building in Chicago in 2018 prior to conversion to apartments](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-17%20at%2012.54.33%20PM.png.webp?itok=aUntR9vD)
Chicago Garage Becomes 72-Unit Apartment Building
The East Lakeview project is within easy walking distance of local businesses and transit.
![View of plain building staircase with light coming in from window on landing](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/AdobeStock_329315836.jpeg.webp?itok=RS5KQXFP)
Editorial: Legalize Single-Staircase Buildings in California
A state bill that would allow multifamily buildings to only include one staircase could help boost the housing supply and encourage more spacious and well-designed apartments.
![Aerial view of large single-family homes in Vancouver, BC suburb](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/AdobeStock_220917688.jpeg.webp?itok=2YL-nV3-)
Vancouver Poised to Increase Residential Zoning
The city council will vote on a proposal to eliminate single-family only zoning in favor of rules that would allow up to six units per residential lot.
![View of houses and buildings in Portland, Maine](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/AdobeStock_73578792.jpeg.webp?itok=tVyakLzO)
Maine Program Funds Rural Affordable Housing
Developers can access up to $185,000 per unit to build affordable multifamily rental housing in small towns.
![Aerial view of large houses in large yards surrounded by trees in Palo Alto, California](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/AdobeStock_268057102.jpeg.webp?itok=PCg9Yd89)
New Research Blames Affluent Suburbs for Housing Crisis
Small, often wealthy enclaves build far less multifamily housing than their larger counterparts, exacerbating the dearth of affordable housing near big cities and job centers.
![Apartment buildings in Denver, Colorado](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/AdobeStock_465365758.jpeg.webp?itok=wkqQxgHc)
Colorado Governor Vetoes Affordable Housing Bill
The bill would have given cities the right of first refusal when multifamily housing projects come up for sale if the city wants to preserve them as affordable housing.
![Downtown Dallas](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_290985848.jpg.webp?itok=9AbshEvi)
Vacant Lot Development Could Bring 100,000 New Housing Units to Dallas
Building on the roughly 76 million square feet of vacant land already zoned for multifamily housing could create badly needed rental housing units and slow the growth of rent prices.
![Single-Family Neighborhood](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_372210526.jpg.webp?itok=9eOkg-Bc)
Toronto Approves Multiplex Housing Citywide
The city hopes streamlining the construction of multifamily housing will slow the growth of housing costs and prevent the displacement of residents as the city grows.
![Curvy street lined with houses in Issaquah Highlands outside Seattle, Washington](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_759849823.jpg.webp?itok=-Jy7HKei)
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.’
![Gainesville, Florida skyline with tall water tower against cloudy sunset sky](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_693235636.jpg.webp?itok=xHoAm_As)
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.
![Facade entrance of typical townhouse with cherry blossom in Seattle, Washington, America. Colorful red siding of two story attached townhouse duplex with blooming pink flower near windows with blinds](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_1699817344.jpg.webp?itok=cA88MW8z)
‘Missing Middle Housing’ Bill Passes in Washington Senate
The legislation would permit duplexes and, in some cases, fourplexes in residential areas in most Washington towns.
![Aerial view of Bellevue, Washington waterfront homes](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_2005069052.jpg.webp?itok=dLK4EA2f)
Washington Could Legalize Multifamily Housing
A bill legalizing duplexes and fourplexes in most of the state’s residential neighborhoods passed the state House on Monday.
![Aerial view of MBTA commuter rail station in Concord, Massachusetts among green trees](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_2221157841.jpg.webp?itok=wB0IoLW_)
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.
![Aerial view of homes with downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin in background](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_114641314.jpg.webp?itok=RPjy0rtL)
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.
![Red and white For Rent sign in front of brick building with flowerpots in background](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_667547935.jpg.webp?itok=HYbZ00za)
Renters Expected To Fare Better Next Year
After years of rising housing costs, renters will see some relief in 2023 as supply rises and more tenant households stay put.
![Row of brick townhomes in Chicago](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_42118921.jpg.webp?itok=BPCAYfAD)
Chicago’s ‘Teardown Tax’ Slowing the Loss of Two-Flats
A demolition fee designed to preserve affordable housing in older buildings has had some impact on the city’s housing supply.
![Low aerial view of two-story suburban Houston homes](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_2226479451.jpg.webp?itok=Mbl7xYvd)
Houston Becoming a Region of Renters
The area has seen a sharp increase in renters as rising housing costs put homeownership out of reach for more households and investors convert single-family homes to multifamily rentals.
![Side view of older woman sitting on gray sofa gazing pensively out of wall-sized window.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_2137327975.jpg.webp?itok=At1JGYqE)
Aging and the Housing Market
When wanting to downsize their living situation, some older Americans are startled to find a dearth of smaller housing units in their neighborhoods.
![Duplex with twin two-story homes](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_2109937598.jpg.webp?itok=KpoAGsGb)
Do Owner Occupancy Requirements Constrain Housing Supply?
Born out of a fear of absentee owners and rapacious investors, owner-occupancy requirements can have the contradictory effects of excluding renters from neighborhoods and limiting the number of rental units available.
![Twin Cities](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_741890836.jpg.webp?itok=l8MIKkBE)
New Studies Shed Light on Relationship Between Zoning and Racial Integration
While zoning is just one of many factors impacting racial integration and economic mobility, it is an issue with some of the more straightforward solutions.
Pagination
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
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.