Theory and Practice in Planning the Suburbs: Challenges to Implementing New Urbanism, Smart Growth, and Sustainability Principles
October 28, 2025Zoning as a Barrier to Multifamily Housing Development
October 28, 2025Do we know regulatory barriers when we see them? An exploration using zoning and development indicators
By Knaap, G. J., Meck, S., Moore, T., & Parker, R.
Full Citation
Knaap, G. J., Meck, S., Moore, T., & Parker, R. (2007). Do we know regulatory barriers when we see them? An exploration using zoning and development indicators. Housing Policy Debate, 18(4), 711-749.
Key Findings
The article offers a detailed analysis of zoning patterns and housing market performance at the jurisdictional level in three metropolitan areas and provides further evidence that zoning can serve as a barrier to the construction of high-density, multifamily housing. The analysis also demonstrates that such disaggregated information can be used to identify and perhaps address regulatory barriers to affordability.