Parking Reform

What is Parking Reform?

Most American cities are built around cars, and zoning codes keep it that way. Parking minimums require every new home or building to include a certain number of parking spaces, regardless of actual need. Reforming or eliminating these mandates frees up land, lowers housing costs, and helps communities become more walkable and sustainable. It is important to note that eliminating parking minimums does not eliminate the availability of parking.

Crafting Parking Reform Policy

Policy features around minimum parking requirements, exemptions, and implementation timelines shape both the practical effects on housing development and the level of public and political support. Because parking reform can raise concerns about neighborhood impacts, these features are critical to getting legislation approved. The legislative process requires constant compromise and negotiation, so policies must be carefully considered to expand housing opportunities while addressing potential opposition and building a broad base of support.

Policy Features Do's and Don'ts

Do focus on easing or eliminating parking requirements near transit corridors as a way to encourage density, transit use, and walkable neighborhoods.

Example Legislation
Example Language: “This bill would prohibit a public agency from imposing any minimum automobile parking requirement on any residential, commercial, or other development project, as defined, that is located within 1/2 mile of public transit, as defined.”

Do provide specific allowances for disability-accessible parking to ensure that those who need access to a vehicle don’t have to compete for space.

Example Legislation
Example Language: “nothing in this section: (a) lowers the protections provided for persons with disabilities, including the number of parking spaces for persons who are mobility impaired, under the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990”

Do allow by-right approval for projects that meet new parking standards to eliminate costly process delays that drive up housing prices.

Example Legislation
Example Language:
“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no locality shall adopt, enforce, or maintain any ordinance, regulation, policy, or requirement that mandates a minimum number of parking spaces for any new or existing building, structure, or use.
Any ordinance, regulation, or policy in conflict with this section is void and of no effect. No proposal shall be denied due to inconsistency with parking mandates as described in this section; any proposal so denied shall be deemed approved for all purposes."

Don't set parking maximums. Local communities historically have not been successful at predicting the appropriate amount of parking. Setting a maximum now can become another barrier to housing down the road.

Don't create new parking districts. Designating reserved parking for local residents and other approved users creates unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that slow down housing production and complicate project approvals.

Don't create parking ratios as a way to calcuate potential parking needs. Predicting parking demand by formula is imprecise and unnecessarily complicates housing project submissions and approvals.

Implementation Guidance

Ensure legislation has a clear and close effective date
Educate local planning and zoning departments on best practices to ensure they stop applying outdated parking ratios during project review
Add a clear enforcement mechanism that provides an appeals process or legal recourse (e.g. appeals board, third party standing, referral to Attorney General’s Office) when parking requirements are applied illegally

Common Political Dynamics Around Parking Reform

To get buy in, prioritize spreading a fact-based narrative about parking reform and its benefits by building coalitions with local residents and businesses. Education sessions and neighborhood meetings can counter common fears about reductions in parking; for example, businesses sometimes oppose parking reform because they fear a loss of revenue if potential customers cannot park nearby. In reality, they overestimate the number of customers who arrive by car and underestimate the number who arrive by foot where infrastructure accommodates it.

Removing parking minimums does not take away parking. It changes where parking is prioritized and swaps empty parking lots for homes filled with families.
Parking reform unlocks affordable housing, reduces costs for future renters or buyers, and modernizes cities, all without taxpayer subsidies.
Outdated parking mandates no longer reflect how people live and travel, and legislators have a responsibility to reduce unnecessary parking in high-demand areas.

Subject matter experts like The Parking Reform Network
Urbanists like Strong Towns
Environmentalists like Sierra Club
Home builder associations
Apartment managers associations
Realtor associations
Transit & bike advocates
Affordable housing organizations

These and other organizations work to educate the public, conduct research, and build coalitions to change parking policies.

Parking Reform: YIMBYs in the News

YIMBY Denver successfully repealed parking minimums citywide after years of advocacy with local partners.
Abundant Housing Illinois celebrated the end of parking minimums in residential zones near public transit centers, then statewide after the chapter worked with allies in the Illinois Homes for All coalition to pass the People Over Parking bill in 2025.

Parking Reform Policy Resources

Parking Reform Network's tracker of state-wide parking reform bills, including a map and details of the efforts in every notable state.
The Parking Reform Network's research library of case studies, data, articles, and more as it relates to parking reform. They also have Cookbook of key policy recommendations.
A Terner Center study highlighting the cost of parking and its impact on housing affordability.
A Mercatus Center report on Buffalo, New York’s parking reforms, which led to the development of more varied building types with parking available but not necessary, easing costs for renters.
A Sightline Institute study proving that removing parking minimums has one of the biggest cost savings impacts on housing.
The National Zoning Atlas map with quick filters shows parking mandates and jurisdictions without parking mandates, and Snapshots with parking stats.

Parking Reform

Mandatory parking minimums are a counterproductive policy driving car-centric sprawl and inflating housing costs. Eliminate these antiquated zoning mandates to unlock land, lower development costs, and prioritize sustainable, walkable community growth.