A recent article by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) correctly noted that those who subscribe to the idea of “not in my backyard” (NIMBYs) often use zoning to stop or impede the construction of affordable housing. Unfortunately, the article accepts the basic premise of the NIMBYs.
The author doesn’t question the moral validity of zoning, and instead urges housing advocates to
fight for zoning codes that contain predictable standards for development with quick administrative review, reducing the opportunity for community pushback.
While this may reduce the ability of NIMBYs to impede new affordable housing, it won’t eliminate that threat. After all, one of the stated purposes of zoning is to give the community a voice in how land is used. So long as non-owners have a voice in how property is used, the threat posed by NIMBYs will remain in place. The only way to defeat NIMBYs is to reject their premise and this means rejecting every form of zoning and land-use regulation.
By its very nature, the zoning process is a magnet for NIMBYs. Zoning gives them a voice in the use of land that they don’t own, and when they can assemble enough like-minded people, they can exert tremendous influence on zoning officials.
However, without zoning, NIMBYs have no power to stop affordable housing projects through political means. Without zoning, the opportunity for community pushback is virtually eliminated.
The affordable housing crisis is fundamentally an issue of demand exceeding supply. NIMBYs resist and fight efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing. Zoning gives them the weapon that they need to be successful. If we want to defeat the NIMBYs, we must take that weapon out of their hands. And that requires the repeal of zoning in every form.