ABSTRACT
Inclusionary zoning is an attractive tool for local governments because it can produce affordable housing and promote socioeconomically mixed projects without direct public funding. However, this tool’s applicability varies across institutional contexts, and its reliance on market dynamics complicates the pursuit of equity. Drawing on an original data set of 79 large-city governments in the US, this chapter describes inclusionary zoning program goals and designs; analyzes the political, economic, and demographic conditions associated with program adoption; and examines the trade-offs involved in tying affordable housing creation to market-rate development.
