North Carolina House Democrats will take another shot at sweeping housing reform. Several cycles of defeat on similar legislation loom in their rearview mirror.<\/p>\n
Undaunted by a string of previously unsuccessful efforts and banking on a redoubled surge of political will to address housing affordability, lawmakers introduced House Bill 1056, titled \u201cRelieving Housing Bottlenecks,\u201d on Monday. <\/p>\n
The measure anchors a broader Democratic-backed cost-of-living package. It would ban corporations from owning large portfolios of single-family homes, eliminate minimum parking requirements for new developments and allow residential construction in all commercially-zoned areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor too many North Carolinians, the basic necessities have become too hard to afford,\u201d Rep. Vernetta Alston, one of the bill sponsors, said in a press conference.<\/p>\n
Tar Heel State lawmakers have tried for years to pass state-level legislation. The measures pre-empt local zoning authority to address a housing affordability crisis. Last year\u2019s bid yielded<\/a> only a minor change, one that prevents cities from setting building codes more stringent than state minimums.<\/p>\n Still, North Carolina has seen little traction in efforts for major housing legislation. Neighboring Virginia passed reforms this year. Those included a \u201cyes in God\u2019s backyard\u201d bill. It allows faith-based organizations to build affordable housing \u201cby right\u201d on properties they own.<\/p>\n North Carolina\u2019s housing reform measure faces long odds in a Republican-controlled General Assembly. Leaders referred it to the House Appropriations Committee. That group has shown no intention of taking it up. The measure lists 29 Democratic sponsors and no Republican co-sponsors.<\/p>\n Lawmakers could split out different parts, as they did last year, and potentially reach a goal or two.<\/p>\n In recent years, North Carolina has attracted a blue-chip array of business relocations. The state also wins on population growth, but both trends carry a cost.<\/p>\n Demand outstripped housing supply during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill states that median home prices have risen by more than 50% statewide since 2015. More than one in three renter households is considered cost-burdened, paying over 30% of their income on housing.<\/p>\nAffordability crisis<\/h2>\n