Housing
Rent, homelessness, zoning, and whether people can afford to live where they work.
Housing costs are set mostly by decisions close to home. Zoning, permitting and what can be built where are city and county choices; tenant law is largely state. Congress controls housing vouchers and the tax rules that drive construction finance.
Who decides this
- Congress
- Housing choice vouchers, the low-income housing tax credit, fair housing law, and federal mortgage policy.
- Your state
- Landlord and tenant law, eviction process, rent regulation where it exists, and statewide zoning preemption.
- Your city or county
- Zoning, permitting, building codes, short-term rental rules, and homelessness services.
In Congress Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs · House Financial Services
Nothing open on housing right now.
You do not have to wait for one. Write to your own officials about it instead.
Common questions
- Who can allow more homes to be built near me?
- Almost always your city council or county commission, through zoning and permitting. Some states have begun overriding local zoning, which moves part of the decision to your legislature.
- Who sets eviction rules?
- Your state. Notice periods, allowable causes and court process are state law, though some cities add protections on top.