Fair Housing Reform in a Southern City: The Case of Charlotte

Most American cities suffer from a lack of affordable housing. Most American cities also have an intricate set of zoning regulations that restrict the types of housing that can be built in many parts of their municipality, which contributes to the problem of housing availability and affordability. These zoning regulations operate behind the scenes, unbeknownst to most residents, and typically serve to prevent denser housing, such as multi-family units or accessory dwelling units, from being built in single-family neighborhoods. Such restrictions also prop up educational inequity, restricting access to certain schools and contributing to segregation. And although historically it has been rare for cities or states to pass comprehensive, inclusive zoning laws that permit more housing stock and promote economic and educational opportunity, in 2021, the city of Charlotte, North Carolina became one of the few cities in the nation to adopt a wide scale inclusive housing reform plan.