INTRODUCTION

The impact of regulatory barriers on has a

concern among housing professionals in recent years. Regulatory barri-
ers are the burdensome, often duplicative Federal, State, and local reg-
ulations that unnecessarily inflate the costs of construction and reha-
and ultimately exclude many Americans from homeownership and rental
opportunities. Those who have studied the issue believe that housing can
be more affordable by reforming excessive regulations, thereby lessening

development and construction costs and thus the price to consumers.

In March 1990 HUD Secretary jack Kemp established an Advisory Commission on
Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing. The 22-member Commission included

policy experts, builders, low-income housing advocates, and elected and
appointed officials. The Commission held hearings across the country to review,

other things, zoning, impact fees, subdivision ordinances, cedes and stan-
dards, rent control, permitting and processing, and Federal, State, and local envi-
ronmental regulations. Their conclusions are contained in a final report, i€Not In
My Bock Yard™: Remomng Barriers to Affardabk Housing, which was issued in July
1991. The report advises Secretary Kemp on the nature and impact of Federal,
State, and local regulations that govern construction, rehabilitation, and manage-
ment of single- and multifamily housing and makes recommendations as to possible
Federal, State, and local actions that can be taken to eliminate or . v r).

r\_ - MM' "'"(]n T/"n/\ V'H /7 s','>

or unnecessary regulations that increase the cost or housi^, ;^ > * M^// >, ^ ^ ^ v$/ >/„ f) / ^ j ^
Tills Resource Guide includes sel^fp