{"id":6886,"date":"2025-10-09T10:31:52","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T14:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/?p=6886"},"modified":"2025-10-09T10:31:56","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T14:31:56","slug":"making-deeds-affordable-state-lawmakers-bring-a-breath-of-fresh-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/making-deeds-affordable-state-lawmakers-bring-a-breath-of-fresh-air\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Deeds Affordable: State Lawmakers Bring a Breath of Fresh Air"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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People need homes. Solutions are<\/em> possible. Where are the politicians and what are they doing \u2014 or not doing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already highlighted the federal ROAD to Housing Act of 2025<\/a>. We\u2019re watching Congress to see how that proceeds in a turbulent year. With a government shutdown casting its chaotic shadow of confusion and delays, many are turning to their states to see what\u2019s being done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Making Commercial Zoning More Flexible? It\u2019s Doable.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The need for housing in the United States is so strong right now that state policy makers are putting aside their ideologies and working together to bring reforms. In 2025, state lawmakers have made impressive progress to increase housing for struggling households from coast to coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a trend in play: opening commercially zoned areas to home builders. Arizona\u2019s large cities, under a new state law, have to welcome multi-unit redevelopment over 10% of their mixed-use or commercial areas. New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Maine now all allow housing to crop up in commercial zones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montana is making room for apartments in industrial areas. Nevada counties now welcome mixed-use and residential properties in places zoned for commerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Texas is now opening metropolitan business areas to apartment complexes. Texas developers who make housing out of former office space now enjoy relaxed zoning and parking space rules. Texas has also enacted the Starter Homes Act<\/em>, which lets people plan free-standing houses on lots as small as 3,000 square feet in new developments in cities. That\u2019s a far smaller area than what used to be required for a house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, Texas has also passed a law to stop small groups of people from getting in the way of re-zoning for housing. Key zoning reforms are being pressed forward by law and policy makers \u2014 regardless of their political affiliations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, In Our Back Yards: More Cottages!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Basement flats and backyard cottages are now being greenlighted in areas where single-unit houses have long been the norm. Accessory dwelling units now get support from Republicans as well as Democrats. The result of their working together? Eighteen U.S. states now have laws letting deed holders install accessory dwellings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iowa, for example, just enacted a law legalizing accessory units. The new law, Iowa Senate File 592<\/a>, says deed holders can make extra units for their relatives or employees, up to a half the size of their property (but no more than a thousand square feet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manufactured homes are welcomed under Iowa\u2019s new law, if installed on a permanent foundation. (Kentucky, Montana and Texas have all made zoning easier to promote the availability of manufactured homes.)  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a rundown of a half-dozen more states that, just this year, got in on the accessory dwelling unit trend. This list is brought to us by the Pew Charitable Trust researchers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n