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Inclusionary Zoning

Field(s):

Community Development, Economic Development, Housing Planning, Land Use & Law

Region of Focus: 

General, North America

Inclusionary zoning is a policy tool that requires or incentivizes developers to include a percentage of affordable housing units in new residential developments. This approach aims to promote socioeconomic diversity, address housing shortages, and ensure that low- and moderate-income households can access housing in high-opportunity areas. 


Inclusionary zoning programs often provide density bonuses, fee waivers, or other concessions to offset the costs of affordable units


While effective in creating mixed-income communities, inclusionary zoning must be carefully designed to avoid discouraging development or exacerbating housing costs. 

Last update: 

April 16, 2025

Developed by:
The Urban Lexis Editorial Team


Contributor(s):

Jing Zhang, AICP


With support from:
ChatGPT (by OpenAI) and DeepSeek


We acknowledge the assistance of AI tools in helping draft content. Final edits, fact-checking, and curatorial decisions were made by the Urban Lexis Editorial Team to ensure quality and relevance for our planning community.

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