Pew 48d ago

When costs pile up for housing developers, people in need of a place to rent or buy often pay the price. One reason builders—and all of us—pay more: The many permitting delays that can happen before construction even begins. Sometimes these costs are so high that projects are cancelled entirely, compounding the nation's housing shortage. And that's driving up rents, house prices, and homelessness. That's where preapproved plans come in. A growing number of cities are creating a reusable set of designs that have been cleared in advance for builders to use for free or with a small fee—a win for all involved. ✔️ Homebuilders benefit from fewer delays, and direct savings on architecture and engineering services. ✔️ Cities benefit through improved land use, with more homes built on less land and in developed areas that can tap existing infrastructure—helping revitalize neglected neighborhoods. ✔️ Residents benefit by having fewer vacant lots, more housing they can afford, and more diverse housing options in their neighborhoods. While preapproved building plans alone won't cure a city’s housing woes, they can meaningfully help improve affordability. This is especially true when working in concert with other proven tactics, such as removing exclusionary zoning and updating building codes to allow for more types of housing. Now, some states are launching initiatives that have seen broad bipartisan support—either by requiring cities to establish preapproved building plan programs or by creating statewide preapproved plans that cities can adopt.