WASHINGTON — The Department of Housing and Urban Development is seeking public feedback on federal, state and local laws and regulations that may inhibit affordable housing or constrain the supply of housing.
The request for information was issued as part of HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s role as the chair of the White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing. As secretary, Carson has often blamed housing shortages on excessive state and local regulations that raise costs for homebuilders and, in turn, housing prices.
“Owning a home is an essential component of the American dream. It is imperative that we remove regulatory barriers that prevent that dream from becoming a reality,” Carson said in a press release. “Through this request, communities across the country will have the opportunity to identify roadblocks to affordable housing and work with state, federal, and local leaders to remove them.”
Specifically, HUD is looking for public comment on which of its own regulations or programs might restrict the supply of housing, ways that state laws and practices might raise the cost of housing construction, the underlying reason for the adoption of state and local laws that could impede affordable housing development and any performance indicators that could help reduce barriers to low-cost housing.
HUD will accept comments until Jan. 21, and specifically encouraged government officials, homebuilders, real estate professionals, affordable housing advocates and economists to submit feedback.
