The American Planning Association (APA) has released a policy guide titled ‘Equity in Zoning’ which advocates for planning-led zoning reforms that can dismantle discriminatory barriers. The 53-page guide addresses zoning across local, state, and federal levels and “prioritizes reversing and alleviating the disproportionate impacts of zoning through three aspects of zoning: rules, people, and mapping.”

“The nation is short 3.79 million housing units due in part to exclusionary regulations that disproportionately harm disadvantaged and vulnerable communities,” the association notes. “Planners have the data-driven insights, understanding of broad community impact, and long-term perspective to help decision makers and communities avoid unfair outcomes in all parts of the zoning process and create more diverse housing options in places they are needed most.”

The APA’s approach to removing the impact of zoning on historically disadvantaged and vulnerable communities centers on three aspects of zoning: the ‘rules’ of zoning, the ‘people’ in zoning, and the ‘map’ of zoning districts. 

Equity in the ‘rules’ of zoning encompasses “what the substantiative rules of zoning allow, prohibit, or incentivize in different parts of the community.” 

Equity in the ‘people’ in zoning encompasses “who is involved in drafting the rules and incentives, who is notified and engaged in whether to change those rules for different areas of the community and who is involved in the enforcement of the rules.” 

Equity in the ‘map’ of zoning districts encompasses “where the rules are applied through zoning maps and whether that reduces or reinforces exclusion and segregation in America.”

Among the 59 policy proposals set out in the document are the adoption of building form and design standards that protect the quality and character of historically vulnerable households and businesses without imposing undue cost burdens, the relaxation of public hearing requirements for ADUs, and the promotion of manufactured and modular homes with “quality common open space and amenities.”

The guide also calls for planners and elected officials to receive DEI training, and that the composition of non-elected boards and committees involved in planning reflect the local community, including proportionate representation from historically disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.

News of the guide comes weeks after mayors across the U.S. voiced their struggles in tackling the national housing and homelessness crises. In 2022, meanwhile, the Los Angeles chapter of the AIA penned an open letter to the LA Mayor’s Office outlining ten proposals to speed up affordable housing production.