Land Use, Permitting, & Building Code Reform

Thus far, zoning and land use reform successes have largely emerged from robust, grassroots mobilization advocating for increasing housing supply. This activism largely falls under the YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) umbrella, with YIMBY organizations such as California YIMBY actively lobbying policymakers in state capitals and city halls. National organizations, such as YIMBY Action and the Welcoming Neighbors Network, have emerged to support state and local
chapters of “Abundant Housing” organizations. Nonprofits, such as the Mercatus Center, the Pew Charitable Trusts and The Center for Building in North America, have provided expertise and research to local and state policymakers in favor of zoning, building, and permitting reform.

The federal government has also taken steps to encourage zoning reform, with programs like HUD’s Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program. Many jurisdictions that won PRO Housing grants did so with proposals that sought to modify zoning codes to allow for more housing. HUD also recently released a guidebook, Eliminating Zoning Barriers to Affordable Housing, which outlines eight land use reform types, and eight additional strategies, that municipalities can enact to encourage more housing development.

In Congress, many bills have been proposed to encourage zoning reform, such as the bipartisan YIMBY Act, which would require recipients of CDBG Block Grants to report on implementation of land use reforms, and the Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act, which would direct HUD to develop model ordinances and zoning codes, and provide technical assistance to cities to reform their land use regulations. The newly created YIMBY Caucus in the House of
Representatives signals a new, standing, coalition of pro-housing lawmakers.

In late 2024, a new organization, the Metropolitan Abundance Project, was launched by California YIMBY. Metropolitan Abundance aims to “provide a proven policy framework and work with leaders at the state and local levels to reverse” exclusionary policies and put cities on an abundance trajectory. In launching, Metropolitan Abundance provided six model state bills relating to: third party review, ADUs, housing on faith-based institution land, minimum lot sizes, off-street parking, and residential in commercial zones. These model bills are meant to be taken by state legislators across the country and proposed and enacted nationwide.

The National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, National Council of State Legislatures, and National Governors Association are all working with their members to promote best practices, case studies, and resources to promote land use, permitting, and building code reform. The National League of Cities recently launched its America’s Housing Comeback Advisory Group. These national membership organizations provide an important source of guidance and expertise to their members, the elected officials who ultimately must lead on the development and implementation of land use, permitting, and building code reform.

Land use, permitting, and building code reform have already begun successfully diffusing and scaling. To continue to amplify the diffusion and scaling of these initiatives would require the expanded and sustained support of organizations like Welcoming Neighbors Network — which currently counts 40 organizations across 24 states as their members. Welcoming Neighbors Network has spearheaded research on the language we use to talk about land use and zoning reform, to be used by policymakers and advocates through the country. As the housing crisis  has grown from high-cost coastal regions to rural areas, the rust belt, and the heartland, more and more communities have recognized that land use, permitting processes, and building codes are often the first piece of the puzzle that needs to be solved by communities trying to build new housing to address their housing shortage and build more homes of all types.