The Growing Federal Push for Zoning Reform
With housing affordability elusive, the federal government is showing a growing interest in encouraging US states and cities to ease barriers to construction.
An accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, under construction in Maine.
Photographer: Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
From the humblest of origins, the local zoning rules that make it so hard to build housing — especially apartments and starter homes — could decide the 2024 election.
Once confined to states like California and New York, the housing shortage has spread across the country, including to battleground states like Arizona and Georgia. Rents in Las Vegas, the biggest city in the bellwether state of Nevada, have jumped 30% since 2020, leaving voters feeling cynical. Across the US, rising home prices remain a significant driver of inflation, a top issue heading into November.