Liberalizing Land Use Regulations: The Case of Houston

Abstract

Sweeping subdivision regulation reform in Houston, Texas, provides an instructive alternative to what can often seem like a no-win scenario for local planners. The circumstances surrounding the city’s 1998 reduction of minimum lot sizes for single-family homes hold important lessons for policymakers. This policy brief outlines what researchers know about minimum-lot-size regulation, sketches out Houston’s unique system of urban land use regulation, and draws lessons from Houston’s successful experience with subdivision liberalization.

Keywords: housing, zoning law, housing policy, city planning, regulation, housing affordability

JEL Classification: R31, R28, O18, R52