Economy

Bills target local zoning laws to boost housing supply

City and county leaders are likely to resist state efforts.
A “for sale” sign is posted in front of a home in Sacramento, Calif., March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Lawmakers in dozens of states will likely consider overriding local zoning to allow more and denser homebuilding this year, as affordability pushes and “yes-in-my-backyard” ideas continue to gain traction. 

Pro-housing bills have already been filed in states such as Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey and Washington, and housing advocates expect more to come. Lawmakers filed hundreds of such bills nationwide last year, and governors enacted laws in at least nine states.

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