Zoning in the United States
Provision in urban planning in the United States / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Zoning in the United States?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Zoning is a law that divides a jurisdiction's land into districts, or zones, and limits how land in each district can be used.[1][2] In the United States, zoning includes various land use laws enforced through the police power rights of state governments and local governments to exercise authority over privately owned real property.[3]
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2022) |
Zoning laws in major cities originated with the Los Angeles zoning ordinances of 1904[4][5] and the New York City 1916 Zoning Resolution.[6] Early zoning regulations were in some cases motivated by racism and classism, particularly with regard to those mandating single-family housing.[7][8] Zoning ordinances did not allow African-Americans moving into or using residences that were occupied by majority whites due to the fact that their presence would decrease the value of home.[9] The constitutionality of zoning ordinances was upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in Village of Euclid, Ohio v. Ambler Realty Co. in 1926.
According to the New York Times, "single-family zoning is practically gospel in America," as a vast number of cities zone land extensively for detached single-family homes.[10] Low-density residential zoning is far more predominating in U.S. cities than in other countries.[7] The housing shortage in many metropolitan areas, coupled with racial residential segregation, has led to increased public focus and political debates on zoning laws.[11][12] Studies indicate that strict zoning regulations constrain the supply of housing and inflate housing prices,[13][14][15][16] and increase homelessness,[17] as well as contribute to inequality[18] and a weaker economy.[13][19]
Strict zoning laws have been found to contribute to racial housing segregation in the United States,[13][20][21][22] and zoning laws that prioritize single-family housing have raised concerns regarding housing availability, housing affordability and environmental harms.[10][23][24] In the U.S., support for local zoning against multifamily housing is concentrated among white, affluent homeowners.[25] There are no substantial differences between liberal and conservative homeowners in their opposition to the construction of dense housing in their neighborhoods.[26] However, among the mass public and elected officials, Democrats are more likely to support dense, multi-family housing.[27]