Photo credit: David Grisham, Nashville Post
As Salt Lake City’s neighborhoods grapple with unmet housing needs, it is essential to create new housing options. Salt Lake City needs to host a wide variety of housing types to meet every resident's needs, but to diversify the supply of housing types within a community, it is first necessary to diversify the size of the lots on which homes can be built. Traditionally, zoning regulations have prioritized single-family homes and low-density development, prioritizing large lots, big lawns, and car-centric sprawl. Decades of data indicate that this development pattern leads to inequities, social isolation, and unsustainable growth.
To meet Salt Lake City's current and future needs, policy should facilitate the construction of starter homes in every neighborhood.
Here is our proposal:
- Reform some single-family zones to create a minimum lot size of 1,400 square feet.
- Reform the flag lot ordinance to support infill development.
- Eliminate costly parking mandates for new homes.
- Allow alleyways to be used as frontage for infill development.
- Reduce setbacks, lot width requirements, and increase lot coverage allowances.
Our analysis (shared below) demonstrates that restrictive zoning in Salt Lake City limits housing options. You may also view the analysis separately here.
Our partners at the Libertas Institute have created materials that further illustrate the power of lot size reform. Read more.
- Sign our petition to support the changes.
- Attend upcoming public meetings. If no event appears, we will put it on this calendar when it is scheduled.
