Municipalities weigh eliminating parking minimums to boost housing

Municipalities in Massachusetts and North Carolina are evaluating reforms to mandatory parking minimums to influence housing development and land use.

In Chelsea, Massachusetts, officials are considering eliminating requirements that mandate a specific number of off-street parking spaces for new residential constructions. Current rules require at least 1.5 spaces per unit for larger buildings and two spaces for smaller projects. Proponents of the change argue that these mandates increase construction costs and consume land that could otherwise be used for housing, whereas opponents suggest they prevent local street parking from becoming overwhelmed.

In Forsyth County, North Carolina, the City-County Planning Board is reviewing a proposal to transition vehicle-space minimums into recommendations. This move follows the signing of House Bill 162, which prohibits local governments from setting mandatory off-street parking counts effective January 1, 2027. The proposed rewrite would maintain requirements for bicycle parking, accessible parking, and loading areas while removing mandatory motor-vehicle counts.