Single-Family Zoning
![1719 house in Salem, Massachusetts](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/1506px-Salem_House_7.JPG.webp?itok=ofDaOmkY)
Greater Boston Considers Relaxing ADU Rules as Housing Shortage Deepens
Cities in the region want to increase flexibility for homeowners who want to build 'granny flats' on their property.
![Charlottesville Downtown mall](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_307452962.jpg.webp?itok=AEW4NKr9)
Controversial Comprehensive Plan Update Moves Forward in Charlottesville
Residents have had a chance to oppose the new residential density proposed by the "Charlottesville Plans Together" comprehensive planning process.
![Charlotte](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_302338073.jpg.webp?itok=wV9JHbgm)
Charlotte's New, Controversial Comprehensive Plan to End Single-Family Zoning
A tight vote after months of controversy has produced a major zoning reform effort that differs significantly from recent examples on the West Coast and in Minneapolis.
![Connecticut Capitol Building](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/Hartford-Capitol.jpg.webp?itok=rWg9ZRWB)
Connecticut Approves Statewide Zoning Reforms—Bill Awaits Governor's Signature
Advocates and political supporters are calling HB 1607 an incremental, first step, after the process of building a winning political coalition cut back some of the original ambition of the statewide zoning reform effort.
![Back Bay Boston](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/BackBay.jpg.webp?itok=HBEc1PJj)
What Is Multi-Family Housing?
Often discussed in contrast with single-family zoning, multi-family housing includes buildings and complexes that house more than one household in the same property.
![Tacoma Washington](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/2048px-Tacoma_WA_aerial.jpg.webp?itok=ag1il728)
Sweeping Residential Zoning Reform Advances in Tacoma
Zoning and land use changes proposed in the Home in Tacoma plan, an element of the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan, was approved this month by the Tacoma Planning Commission.
![New York Development](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_658907470.jpg.webp?itok=QR4qNzTP)
Opinion: Zoning Reform Is a Social Justice Issue
Far from an obscure, wonky local issue, zoning reform has the potential to advance social justice in American cities.
![Columbus Ohio](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/30841368273_31011d68be_k.jpg.webp?itok=SapZo0gr)
Ohio Economists: Relax Zoning to Lower Housing Costs
A panel of Ohio economists make the case for more multi-family housing and businesses in single-family neighborhoods.
![Washington, D.C. Historic District](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_676719607.jpg.webp?itok=R8YKtoCK)
Balancing Aesthetics and Affordability
Policies too narrowly focused on design can drive up the cost of construction and prevent the development of affordable housing.
![Back Yard](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_301902851.jpg.webp?itok=9EDewg03)
With Regulations Loosened, Granny Flat Construction Soars in California
Less restrictive permit laws and pre-fabricated, pre-approved building options are spurring more homeowners to build backyard additions.
![Queen Anne Hill Seattle](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/1024px-Queen_Anne_hill_from_Space_Needle_-_Seattle.JPG.webp?itok=8MX2Bf_9)
Seattle Has a Housing Crisis, Not a Land Crisis
Like many attractive, economically successful cities Seattle has a housing crisis, but not a land crisis. There is plenty of land if the city will just grow up.
![Campanile](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_149651078.jpg.webp?itok=L8Kpx1F0)
One Berkeley Resident's Fight to Desegregate the City
Dorothy Walker has spent decades working to eliminate housing discrimination. In February, the city council finally agreed.
![New York Development](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_658907470.jpg.webp?itok=QR4qNzTP)
What Is Upzoning?
Upzoning is a term used to describe changes to a zoning code made to increase the amount of development allowed in the future.
![Washington D.C. Street](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/dc%20street5607427537_f67b26f6dd_o.jpg.webp?itok=F1ChZJum)
'Housing Supply and Affordability Act' Offers $1.5 Billion in Grants for Development-Friendly Zoning Reforms
The Housing Supply and Affordability Act would be a major victory for the YIMBY cause.
![Peninsula](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_773896066.jpg.webp?itok=GzA8jKuI)
Opinion: California Should Pass Aggressive Housing Reform
While some lawmakers oppose recent efforts to reform housing policies, others argue the state's affordability crisis calls for bold action.
![Oakland California Road](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/Oakland%2C_CA_04_-_panoramio.jpg.webp?itok=cRnkbQUW)
Oakland Wants to Make Space for Fourplexes
The city of Oakland in the East Bay Area is a hotbed of planning and development issues, most notably gentrification and the displacement of communities of color. Now the city is considering a drastic change to its zoning code.
![Connecticut Capitol Building](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/Hartford-Capitol.jpg.webp?itok=rWg9ZRWB)
Next Up for Statewide Zoning Reform: Connecticut
A proposed package of reforms working through the Connecticut Legislature would loosen zoning codes in a state traditionally committed to single-family zoning.
![Victoria, British Columbia](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_186227552.jpg.webp?itok=Iqfd-dxX)
Home-Based Businesses Could Save the Post-Pandemic Economy
Seattle's city council considers reducing 'arbitrary' and 'exclusionary' limits on home-based businesses.
![Grizzly Point Berkeley](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_126215444.jpg.webp?itok=fxCvZXms)
Upzoning Catches on in California
Eliminating single-family zoning and other exclusionary ordinances could have major impacts on housing in some of the country's most unaffordable cities.
![Highway 101 California](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_509358919.jpg.webp?itok=-gJ1SDX3)
Zoning Reform Skepticism
Ending single-family zoning, as more cities around the United States have begun to do, is too extreme a response to contemporary planning challenges, according to a recent opinion piece published by the East Bay Times.
Pagination
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
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Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
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