21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Spurs State Zoning Reforms

The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, enacted on July 11, is the first comprehensive federal housing law in decades. It contains more than 50 provisions that streamline federal rules, direct new funding, incentives and technical assistance to states, localities and tribes, and ties federal dollars to future zoning, permitting and building‑code reforms.

Cities such as Austin, Texas have already eased zoning for accessory dwelling units and apartments, streamlined permitting and added about 120,000 homes between 2015 and 2024, lowering median rent. Similar reforms are under way in Minneapolis, Raleigh and Spokane. In California, officials stress that state‑level changes are still needed; Proposition 45, on the November ballot, would modernize the state’s project‑review and permitting process, potentially cutting tens of thousands of dollars from home‑building costs and accelerating affordable‑housing delivery.