The White House recently released a Housing Development Toolkit, available here, which details actions that state and local jurisdictions can take to promote housing development. The toolkit argues that restrictive zoning contributes to higher rents, exacerbates wealth inequality, and slows down economic growth. The white paper encourages:
Establishing by-right development that reduces a developer’s need to seek zoning variances or other approvals which add to the length of time needed to complete a project
Taxing vacant land to encourage development or finding ways to donate it to non-profit developers
Streamlining or shortening permit processes
Eliminating parking requirements
Enacting high-density and multifamily zoning
Allowing accessory dwelling units
Establishing density bonuses
Employing inclusionary zoning
Establishing tax incentives for development of affordable housing
The toolkit has received bipartisan praise from both liberal and conservative economists.