New Ban on Single-Family Zoning in D.C. Metro

Demand for badly needed housing has triggered another ban on single-family zoning. Lawmakers in Arlington County, Virginia, approved a controversial plan to eliminate single-family exclusivity, and allow as many as six homes on one property. The decision came after a contentious three-year debate, and is part of a growing trend to dismantle the long-standing concept for single-family communities.    Hi, I'm Kathy Fettke and this is Real Estate News for Investors. Please remember to subscribe to this podcast and leave us a review.   The policy was unanimously approved by a five-member county board after a battle that included a so-called “Missing Middle Housing Study.” The missing middle is a phrase that refers to housing that falls between apartments and single-family homes. It covers several kinds of housing including townhomes, duplexes, and triplexes with more space than apartments. It could also include backyard cottages or in-law units which are more officially known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs.   Divisive Debate Over Single-Family Zoning Ban   As reported by the Washington Post, some Arlington County residents supported the idea, saying a ban on exclusive single-family neighborhoods would increase affordable housing options and diversify their communities. Other residents argued that it would lead to overcrowding, lower property values, and the destruction of their lifestyle and neighborhoods. (1)   Arlington County is a desirable part of the greater Washington, D.C. metro with a growing population and a growing demand for more housing. The county’s board chair, Christian Dorsey, said the ban will help the county address population growth, and move past the “discriminatory noise” within zoning rules.   He says: “Growth and change are not good or bad, they just are.” And, he says: “It’s our responsibility to make sure we accommodate that – to make sure that it works well for as many people as it possibly can.”   New Rules Among the Most Permissive in the Country   The new rules are some of the most permissive in the country. Contractors will be allowed to put up to five or six homes on lots that range in size from 6 to 7,000 square feet. Smaller lots will have a limit of 4 units. Height, lot coverage, floor area, and setbacks will remain the same.    According to Wikipedia, single-family zoning has been around since 1916, and began in the Elmwood neighborhood of Berkeley, California. The story goes that a real estate developer in the Elmwood district pushed for single-family zoning rules to prevent a dance company owned by a Black resident from moving into homes that he was trying to sell. He apparently pushed for single-family zoning with the help of other developers who were also trying to keep certain groups of people out of the neighborhood.   Growing Opposition to Single-Family Zoning   More than one hundred years later, the concept is now wavering under the weight of the housing crisis, and the idea of banning this kind of exclusive zoning is gaining momentum across the country. According to BisNow, at least three states and eight municipalities have passed bans on single-family-only zoning.   The city of Minneapolis was the first to implement a ban in 2018. The state of Oregon followed in 2019. Several cities in California banned that kind of zoning, but state lawmakers approved a bill in 2019 called Senate Bill 9. That legislation makes it legal to have two units on a single-family property, and in some cases, four units.   The state of Maine adopted a ban last year. The Washington State House of Representatives just recently passed a bill that would ban single-family zoning statewide, but it still needs approval from the state senate and the governor. (2)   The policy in Arlington, Virginia, goes into effect on July 1st and will be phased in over five years. During those first five years, only 58 permits a year will be approved. The cap will be lifted in 2028.   This kind of ban opens up opportunities for homeowners to be coincidental landlords if they build additional housing on their properties, and rent them out. You’ll find links to the Washington Post story in the show notes at newsforinvestors.com.   Please remember to join RealWealth by clicking on the “join for free” button. As a member, you’ll have greater access to investing opportunities in desirable rental markets across the country. That includes our investor portal, our market data, and our experienced investment counselors. You can also find out more about our spring real estate tours in metros that are popular among single-family rental investors, and our mastermind events to help get you on the path to long-term wealth.   If you haven’t subscribed to the podcast, please do so! And leave us a review!   Thank you! And thanks for listening, Kathy Show Notes link:  https://www.newsforinvestors.com   Join link: https://join.realwealth.com/?utm_content=Real%20Estate%20News%20Podcast&utm;_campaign=Join%20for%20Free&utm;_term=Description%20Text%20Link   Subscribe link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-news-real-estate-investing-podcast/id1079952715   Links:   1 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/03/22/arlington-missing-middle-vote-zoning/   2 -  https://www.housingwire.com/articles/wa-house-passes-bill-that-would-ban-single-family-zoning/