North Carolina legislators have introduced a slate of bills to make it easier to build housing by barring many of the local zoning codes initially used to maintain segregation. The four bipartisan bills include:

• SB 495/HB 627, by Sen. Julie Mayfield (Asheville) and four other cosponsors, would legalize accessory dwelling units (sometimes referred to as mother-in-law units) across the state. 
• SB 497, by Sen. Julie Mayfield (Asheville) and four other cosponsors, would legalize “middle housing types,” including duplexes through 6-plexes and townhomes in areas currently only zoned for single-family homes. 
• SB 492, by Sen. Tim Moffitt (Hendersonville) and three other cosponsors, would change the building codes for small apartment buildings to only require one stairwell. This would maintain fire safety, while significantly reducing construction costs. 
• SB 499, by Sen. Julie Mayfield (Asheville) and six other cosponsors, would allow residential buildings in areas zoned for commercial, office, or retail use. 

After explicitly racist zoning laws were struck down, many communities turned to a combination of single-family zoning laws and racially restrictive covenants to prevent African Americans and other people of color from entering white neighborhoods. Racially restrictive covenants are no longer enforceable, but in many communities single family zoning continues to keep neighborhoods with high performing schools and other amenities out of reach of most African Americans. The vast swaths of the state restricted to single family homes also prevents denser housing construction and increases housing costs for everyone. 

The Redress Movement supports all four bills. We do so with the understanding that expanding housing supply doesn't necessarily redress segregation or guarantee affordability, but it is often a necessary or complimentary first step to policies and programs that will achieve those goals. In particular, we believe these reforms are an important move toward allowing for the placement of affordable housing in well-resourced communities, which is one of our Shared Principles for Redressing Segregation. We hope you’ll join us and our partners in supporting these bills when they receive hearings at the legislature.