According to researchers, average home prices grew more than twice as fast as average incomes between 2020 and 2023. The cost of living continues to rise, and more Pennsylvanians are being priced out of affordable housing near their workplaces. Experts believe that zoning restrictions have hindered the growth in housing stock necessary to make housing more affordable. Helping to create more affordable housing in the Commonwealth will require making use of certain areas that are not currently zoned for certain multi-family dwellings.
 
Housing needs can only be met when we are able to increase the supply to meet the demands of the housing marketplace. My legislation would require cities, boroughs, incorporated towns and townships with either a population of 5,000 or greater or a population density of 6,000 or greater to permit the use of duplex, triplex, and quadplex housing in areas currently zoned for single-family residences only. Municipalities still would have the authority to deny projects that are not a good fit for their communities.
 
We must reform municipal zoning to encourage the development of new housing while retaining municipalities’ veto power over proposed local developments. We hope that you will join us in promoting the adoption of zoning to permit the construction of multi-family residential units in these additional areas.