YIMBY - Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act

2025 Federal Priority 

Overview

The Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act (IRBHS Act) is a critical step in addressing the nation’s longstanding housing affordability crisis. This bipartisan legislation, introduced as S.2416 and H.R.4659 by Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Reps. Mike Flood (R. Neb.) and Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), will encourage localities to address outdated and burdensome zoning, permitting and building requirements. 

 


 

Industry Position

To meet the nation’s housing needs, America needs to build 4.3 million more apartment homes by 2035. However, the rental housing industry currently faces significant barriers to new construction, development and renovation. The National Apartment Association (NAA) is pleased to see the introduction of the IRBHS Act and encourages its passage through Congress. 

As an Owner or Operator, How Does this Affect My Business? 

The IRBHS Act, known previously as the Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) Act and that passed the House without opposition in 2020, incentivizes local jurisdictions to review laws and regulations that hinder new housing development. 

Specifically, the bill would require any locality receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to report on a variety of regulatory policies, whether they have been adopted, plan to adopt them and the ways in which adopting them will benefit the jurisdiction. 

A few examples of these policies are: 

  • Expanding by-right multifamily zoned areas 
  • Reducing minimum lot size
  • Streamlining or shortening permitting processes and timelines, including through one-stop and parallel-process permitting 
  • Eliminating or reducing off-street parking requirements 
  • Allowing off-site construction, including prefabricated construction 
  • Establishing density bonuses 
  • Eliminating or relaxing residential height limitations 
  • Using property tax abatements to enable higher density and mixed-income communities 

Contact Information

To learn more about this issue, please contact NAA's Public Policy team.

 

Related Content 

NMHC and NAA Statement on the Introduction of the Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act

By encouraging state and local lawmakers to consider how these proven solutions for expanding housing supply would fit within their community’s needs, the IRBHS Act could deliver tailored reform to the regulatory environment. While each of these policies is just one piece of the puzzle for resolving the nation’s housing supply challenges, the cumulative effect across the 1,200 jurisdictions that receive CDBG funds will be significant. 

NAA looks forward to continuing to work with lawmakers in both parties to advance legislation aimed at achieving real solutions to the housing affordability crisis.