There are certain issues that sit at the crossroads of all needs in Society and transcend political ideology. Zoning Laws are one such issue.
The history of Zoning Laws, particularly as they pertain to Residential Zoning in the United States, is one of Racism and Segregation. Yet, many do not realize this. Currently, Zoning Laws also contribute to a shortage of housing and a drastic problem in housing affordability and a homeless crisis. Zoning Laws are a crisis point where those of many different political ideologies can find an intersection of agreement.
Historically, the first restrictive residential covenant specifically aimed to exclude non-whites originated in…Berkeley, California. From there, the first racial zoning ordinance was introduced in Baltimore, Maryland, afterward. Zoning laws and residential housing covenants have such strong ties to racial segregation that their origins are rooted in those very reasons. While the practice of “red lining” is now repeatedly pointed to as the historic example of residential racism in U.S. history, these other, pervasive efforts at segregation still exist to this very day and are even seen as necessary.
Zoning laws add to the burden of a housing shortage already in place in much of the United States. While inflation of the dollar is often blamed for one’s inability to purchase a house in today’s residential market, the reality of a shrinking housing market is often overlooked. While some new housing is constructed, current owners are often opting to lease their properties for a passive income rather than sell. Increasing lifespans in the population mean fewer homes entering the market at any given time when taking into account simple demographics. Multiple factors create a situation that severely restricts the current pool of properties from resale, not only creating a housing shortage, but contributing to rising housing costs.
Lifting the harsh restrictions Zoning Laws place on affordable housing allows for the ability to address issues of historic racism and segregation, empower those who would be homeowners if only affordable options were made available, as well as examine current contributing factors affecting those facing the very real threat of homelessness. Zoning Laws are evidence that Government has overstepped its bounds. And, this is a moment when Society must step in and be the solution. We are Society and this is an issue which transcends political ideology and unites us regardless of political labels.
Additional Reading:
Colburn, Gregg, and Clayton Page Aldern. “Homelessness Is a Housing Problem.” Homelessness Is a Housing Problem, University of California Press, Mar. 2022, homelessnesshousingproblem.com/.
Fechter, Joshua, and Carla Astudillo. “Texas Lawmakers Want to Make It Easier to Convert Office Space into Apartments and Condos.” The Texas Tribune, The Texas Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025, www.texastribune.org/2025/02/21/texas-bill-vacant-office-residential-legislature/.
Hayes, Justin. “A Search for Common Ground, Part 1: Ending Exclusionary Zoning.” The JusTN Case, The JusTN Case, 22 July 2023, www.thejustncase.net/p/a-search-for-common-ground-part-1.
“Single-Family Zoning and Its Blatantly Racist Origins.” Good Human Habitat, Good Human Habitat, 26 July 2024, goodhumanhabitat.org/governance/racism-and-single-family-zoning/.
Somin, Ilya. “Three Constitutional Issues Libertarians Should Make Their Own.” Cato.Org, Cato Institute, Mar. 2023, www.cato.org/policy-report/march/april-2023/three-constitutional-issues-libertarians-should-make-their-own.
Showing 1 reaction