Zoning laws in the US significantly impact housing affordability, segregation, and inequality. Restrictive zoning, especially single-family zoning, limits housing supply and drives up costs. The origins of zoning lie in early 20th-century urban planning, aiming to control land use and address social concerns. However, zoning also had discriminatory roots, used to segregate neighborhoods. While racial zoning was outlawed, exclusionary zoning practices continue to shape housing patterns. These practices, like minimum lot size requirements and single-family home zoning, contribute to racial and economic segregation, limit affordable housing options, and exacerbate housing affordability issues.

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