In recent decades, exclusionary zoning has taken a far more subtle form. Today, planners use the term exclusionary zoning to refer to some relatively common restrictions, such as low-density zoning permitting only for-sale single-family homes. Such rules can exacerbate economic and racial segregation by preventing developers from building naturally lower-cost homes and apartments, like small houses, duplexes, or apartment buildings.
Inclusionary housing is a response to historical and modern forms of exclusionary zoning. Although not intended to completely right racial injustices embedded in our nation’s housing practices, it can provide an immediate supply of affordable housing for households earning below median income in neighborhoods already rich with services and amenities. As Raj Chetty’s research points out, upward mobility within a person’s lifetime is partially dependent on where they reside. Providing safe housing in neighborhoods with access to better schools, food and transportation is not a panacea – but it is one strategy municipalities can adopt to help address racial disparities in health and wealth.