On June 26, North Carolina’s House of Representatives banned local mandates that forced developers to build parking lots. That will cut construction costs and free up more land for housing units.
The North Carolina House passed a bill unanimously that would block local governments from forcing developers to build parking…With a starting price tag of about $5,000 per space, parking mandates add to the rising costs of new construction. Those expenses are then passed on to residents and businesses as higher rent.
Removing excess pavement can reduce sprawl, car dependency, stormwater runoff and heat retention, while promoting economic revitalization, business activity and affordable housing.
Over 20 groups were pushing for the Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act, or House Bill 369…The bill’s sponsors come from a range of industries, from construction to farming. They are Reps. Donnie Loftis (R-Gaston), Mark Brody (R-Anson, Union), Howard Penny Jr. (R-Harnett, Johnston) and Allison Dahle (D-Wake).
If it becomes law, the bill would override any local rules. Charlotte still requires parking for new developments. Even a newly built bar near the light rail needs to pave new spots to open. The Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act now heads to the Senate.
Many parking requirements are based on obsolete notions of how many apartment dwellers drive. As Google AI explains, “fewer Gen Z individuals own cars compared to older generations at the same age. This trend is influenced by factors like rising car costs, the appeal of alternative transportation options like public transit and ride-sharing, and a shift in priorities among younger adults.”
As Statista.com adds, “Owning a Car Is Less Important to Younger Generations. 54 percent of Gen Z participants polled for Statista’s Consumer Insights survey in the U.S. between July 2023 and June 2024 claim that owning a car is important to them, compared to 69 percent of baby boomers.”
This North Carolina legislation should make housing more affordable by getting rid of unnecessary parking lot requirements. As longtime newspaper editorialist Bob Rayner notes, “Research shows that the primary culprits behind high state and local housing costs are restrictive zoning and land-use regulations that artificially limit the housing supply.”
