zoning reform

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

changes to municipal land-use regulations that govern what types of buildings can be built in different areas, how tall they can be, how many units they can contain, and how land is used; exclusionary single-family zoning — which mandates low-density detached housing across large areas of many American cities — is widely identified as a primary driver of housing unaffordability, spatial segregation, and urban sprawl; reform movements advocate allowing denser housing in more locations, reducing or eliminating parking minimums, and enabling accessory dwelling units; cities including Minneapolis, Auckland, and Auckland have enacted significant zoning reforms, while states such as California have imposed state-level upzoning mandates on municipalities resisting local reform