Parking reform

End mandatory parking minimums — a hidden tax that adds tens of thousands of dollars to every new home.

What it does

Mandatory parking minimums quietly decide what gets built in most of America — and they decide against homes. Repealing them is the cheapest, most-proven housing reform on the menu.

Example legislation

Bills that carry this policy, passed and in progress.

Would end parking mandates near transit nationwide.
People Over Parking Act
Federal · 119th Congress
No parking minimums within a half mile of transit — the statewide model other legislatures now copy.
California AB 2097
State · California

Why localities should pursue parking reform

The problem

Minimums require a fixed number of off-street spaces per home or business, regardless of need. A structured space costs $28,000–$75,000 to build. On small lots the mandate doesn't make projects expensive — it makes them impossible.

The fix

Repeal the mandates and let builders, businesses, and residents decide how much parking each project needs. Lenders and buyers still demand parking where people drive — repeal just stops requiring it where they don't.

“
Parking mandates are a hidden tax on housing — every mandated space adds tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a home, whether or not the resident owns a car.
”

YIMBY LawFrom the parking reform primer’s talking points

Crafting the policy

What separates versions that produce homes from versions that produce headlines.

A bill that works

Must include

Repeal citywide, not just downtown
Cover every use, not just housing
Keep accessibility requirements
Make it self-executing

A bill that stalls

Watch out for

Don't swap in parking maximums
Don't add in-lieu fees
Don't trade away street permits

Why each one matters

After it passes

What to watch so the law turns into homes.

1
Set a clear effective date and publish updated checklists before it lands
2
Brief permit-counter staff
Most 'failed' repeals die at the counter, not the council
3
Track outcomes from day one
Permits filed, homes built, parking actually provided — the data defends the win

Make the case

What to say at public comment, in a letter to council, or to a neighbor.

Talking points

Say them at public comment, put them in a letter to your council, or send them to a neighbor. Copy any one.

1 of 3
Parking mandates are a hidden tax on housing — every mandated space adds tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a home, whether or not the resident owns a car.
2 of 3
This doesn't ban parking. It stops the government from forcing you to build parking you don't need — builders keep providing it wherever people want it.
3 of 3
It's a zero-dollar housing policy: no subsidy, no new program, no staff. Just permission.

Likely allies

The groups that tend to show up for it.

6 likely allies

CGClimate groupsLess driving, less asphalt, less runoff
FCFiscal conservativesMarkets, not mandates — and no budget line
PPreservationistsHistoric buildings can't add lots — reuse depends on repeal
Small builders & landlordsMandates kill small infill projects first
SBSmall businessesA required lot can cost more than the storefront
TATransit agenciesRiders and walkable stations over car storage

Wins & momentum

Where it has already passed.

wins since 2017

YIMBY-backed: 3
States: 6

2017

’18

’19

’20

2021

2022

2023

’24

2025

YIMBY-backed
Other wins

Related primers

Legalize housing

Bringing this to your city council?

You don't have to make the case alone. Our chapters have passed policies like this before — join one, or start one, and bring the movement with you.

Become a member Find your chapter

All solutions

Fix incentives

Parking reform

End mandatory parking minimums — a hidden tax that adds tens of thousands of dollars to every new home.

Written by YIMBY Law

What it does

Mandatory parking minimums quietly decide what gets built in most of America — and they decide against homes. Repealing them is the cheapest, most-proven housing reform on the menu.

Example legislation

Bills that carry this policy, passed and in progress.

Would end parking mandates near transit nationwide.
People Over Parking Act
Federal · 119th Congress
No parking minimums within a half mile of transit — the statewide model other legislatures now copy.
California AB 2097
State · California

Why localities should pursue parking reform

The problem

The fix

“
Parking mandates are a hidden tax on housing — every mandated space adds tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a home, whether or not the resident owns a car.
”

YIMBY LawFrom the parking reform primer’s talking points

Crafting the policy

What separates versions that produce homes from versions that produce headlines.

A bill that works

Must include

Repeal citywide, not just downtown
Cover every use, not just housing
Keep accessibility requirements
Make it self-executing

A bill that stalls

Watch out for

Don't swap in parking maximums
Don't add in-lieu fees
Don't trade away street permits

Why each one matters

After it passes

What to watch so the law turns into homes.

1
Set a clear effective date and publish updated checklists before it lands
2
Brief permit-counter staff
Most 'failed' repeals die at the counter, not the council
3
Track outcomes from day one
Permits filed, homes built, parking actually provided — the data defends the win

Make the case

What to say at public comment, in a letter to council, or to a neighbor.

Talking points

Say them at public comment, put them in a letter to your council, or send them to a neighbor. Copy any one.

1 of 3
Parking mandates are a hidden tax on housing — every mandated space adds tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a home, whether or not the resident owns a car.
2 of 3
This doesn't ban parking. It stops the government from forcing you to build parking you don't need — builders keep providing it wherever people want it.
3 of 3
It's a zero-dollar housing policy: no subsidy, no new program, no staff. Just permission.

Likely allies

The groups that tend to show up for it.

6 likely allies

CGClimate groupsLess driving, less asphalt, less runoff
FCFiscal conservativesMarkets, not mandates — and no budget line
PPreservationistsHistoric buildings can't add lots — reuse depends on repeal
Small builders & landlordsMandates kill small infill projects first
SBSmall businessesA required lot can cost more than the storefront
TATransit agenciesRiders and walkable stations over car storage

Wins & momentum

Where it has already passed.

wins since 2017

YIMBY-backed: 3
States: 6

2017

’18

’19

’20

2021

2022

2023

’24

2025

YIMBY-backed
Other wins

Related primers

Legalize housing

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

ADUs use existing infrastructure to add much-needed housing variety to established residential areas.

Legalize housing

Housing near jobs

Require job-rich, transit-rich areas to allow the homes their workers need.

Streamline permitting

Office-to-housing conversions

Make it easy to turn empty offices into apartments people actually live in.

Bringing this to your city council?

You don't have to make the case alone. Our chapters have passed policies like this before — join one, or start one, and bring the movement with you.

Become a member Find your chapter

What it does

Example legislation

People Over Parking Act

California AB 2097

Why localities should pursue parking reform

The problem

The fix

Crafting the policy

Must include

Watch out for

Why each one matters

Repeal citywide, not just downtownInclude

Cover every use, not just housingInclude

Keep accessibility requirementsInclude

Make it self-executingInclude

Don't swap in parking maximumsAvoid

Don't add in-lieu feesAvoid

Don't trade away street permitsAvoid

After it passes

Set a clear effective date and publish updated checklists before it lands

Brief permit-counter staff

Track outcomes from day one

Make the case

Talking points

Likely allies

6 likely allies

Wins & momentum

NYBuffalo, NY2017

MNMinneapolis, MN2021

CACalifornia2022YIMBY-backedYIMBY-backed

TXAustin, TX2023

CODenver, CO2025YIMBY-backedYIMBY-backed

ILIllinois2025YIMBY-backedYIMBY-backed

Related primers

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Housing near jobs

Office-to-housing conversions

Bringing this to your city council?

What it does

Example legislation

People Over Parking Act

California AB 2097

Why localities should pursue parking reform

The problem

The fix

Crafting the policy

Must include

Watch out for

Why each one matters

Repeal citywide, not just downtownInclude

Cover every use, not just housingInclude

Keep accessibility requirementsInclude

Make it self-executingInclude

Don't swap in parking maximumsAvoid

Don't add in-lieu feesAvoid

Don't trade away street permitsAvoid

After it passes

Set a clear effective date and publish updated checklists before it lands

Brief permit-counter staff

Track outcomes from day one

Make the case

Talking points

Likely allies

6 likely allies

Wins & momentum

NYBuffalo, NY2017

MNMinneapolis, MN2021

CACalifornia2022YIMBY-backedYIMBY-backed

TXAustin, TX2023

CODenver, CO2025YIMBY-backedYIMBY-backed

ILIllinois2025YIMBY-backedYIMBY-backed

Related primers

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Housing near jobs

Office-to-housing conversions

Bringing this to your city council?