City & Local

Zoning

3 articles

Aerial view of a city neighborhood, illustrating the impact of zoning laws on urban development and housing diversity.
Neighborhoods

What Is Zoning and How Does It Shape Neighborhood Development?

In San Francisco, zoning laws once dictated that only members of the immediate family one generation out could live together, with the sole exception of live-in servants.

Derek Molina·May 19, 2026
A neighborhood scene with a zoning board building, symbolizing the influence of regulations on community development and property values.
Neighborhoods

How Zoning Boards Shape Neighborhood Development and Property Values

In 36 states, rising zoning regulations are directly associated with an increase in real average home prices, often making housing less accessible for many.

Aaron Blake·May 13, 2026
Aerial view of a city divided by zoning, showing contrast between dense, diverse neighborhoods and uniform single-family housing areas.
Real Estate

What is Zoning and How Does it Impact City Development?

Cities in California with over 96 percent single-family-only zoning are nearly 55 percent white, starkly contrasting with the state's overall 35 percent white population, according to the California Z

Aaron Blake·May 10, 2026