**Bipartisan Bill Aims to Reduce Zoning Barriers and Boost Housing Supply**
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Todd Young (R-IN) have introduced the Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act—legislation aimed at encouraging local governments to reduce restrictive zoning and development regulations. The bill has received formal endorsements from the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and the National Apartment Association (NAA).
The proposed legislation would require jurisdictions receiving federal Community Development Block Grants to disclose whether they’ve adopted more flexible land use policies. If not, they must submit a plan for doing so and detail the potential community benefits of such changes. The intent, according to the senators, is not to override state or local control of zoning laws, but to promote greater transparency and accountability in housing policy.
“In order to reverse anti-housing policies, we need to know where they are in place and how they hurt communities,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill will provide HUD and the public with more transparency on policies that are stopping much-needed housing from being built.”
The bill’s sponsors in the House of Representatives include Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) and Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), demonstrating bipartisan support for addressing housing supply challenges.
Key policy reforms supported by the bill include:
– Allowing high-density single-family and multifamily zoning
– Permitting manufactured homes in areas typically reserved for single-family houses
– Reducing minimum lot size requirements
– Enabling development of single-room occupancy units in multifamily-zoned areas
In a joint statement, NMHC and NAA emphasized the significance of the legislation: “This critical legislation will encourage localities to address outdated and burdensome zoning, permitting, and building regulations. If signed into law, it will bring attention to barriers to housing development and help address the nation’s housing affordability crisis.”
