What Do Local Officials And Staff Think About Housing?

During the spring and the early summer of 2024 over 600 elected officials and housing-oriented municipal staff across the state received a survey from the Utah Foundation. The purpose? To get their perspective on housing issues and to publish a report with their findings. Receiving approximately 100 responses, the survey contains some results worth highlighting.

The Acceptance of the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)

When local officials were asked about their support for various housing measures, responses varied. “Encourage accessory dwelling units” was the most widely supported, with 71% of respondents supportive, 22% neutral, and only 6% unsupportive. One reason for this acceptance could be that cities already have ADU ordinances on the books and have them scattered throughout their jurisdictions. Settled issues rarely provoke the same opposition as new ones, allowing for broader acceptance among officials and the community.

Lower Opposition to Middle Housing and Small Lots

Two other housing measures, “Encourage Middle Housing” and “Reform Zoning for Smaller Lots,” also featured lower levels of opposition. However, despite only 6% opposition, the broad definition of the term “Middle Housing” makes the results hard to interpret. For example, middle housing generally refers to a range of housing types between large-lot single-family homes and larger apartment complexes. Examples include small-lot homes, townhomes, duplexes, and cottage court clusters. Whether respondents endorsed all these housing types or just supported diverse housing in general is unclear.

Another notable measure was “Reforming zoning for smaller lots,” where 57% were supportive, 24% were neutral, and 19% opposed. A subject that we have researched extensively, small lots have been the subject of public debate for some time. The fact that survey respondents generally support them spells hope for the construction of more starter homes in Utah.

Small lot home.

Community Opposition as Most Significant Barrier

When asked, “What are the two most significant obstacles to your municipality increasing its affordable housing?” respondents cited community opposition and financing barriers as the most important. Unsurprisingly, community opposition ranked highest, as “affordable housing” is a term that is sometimes interpreted to mean subsidized housing or large apartment complexes. These concerns can lead to a powerful sentiment, where even non-subsidized, small-scale projects featuring single-family homes or duplexes face pushback. This reported opposition, however, highlights the challenges municipalities face in balancing growth with the desire to maintain the status quo within communities.

Other Notable Results

The political consequences from ignoring residents’ concerns along with aesthetic concerns provide further notable insights from the survey. For example, the survey noted that local officials and staff value the size and scale of homes that may result from zoning changes. Things like, “it appeared to be a single-family house” and the overall importance of style were top considerations. 79% of respondents also indicated that officials who ignore resident concerns over housing would face political consequences. Lastly, 65% of respondents did not favor state involvement in local policy.

What Does This Mean?

The survey results suggest a cautious but growing acceptance of certain housing reforms among local officials in Utah. The strong support for ADUs and the relatively low opposition to smaller lot zoning indicate a willingness to explore more diverse housing options. However, the significant concern over community opposition underscores the challenges municipalities face in getting buy-in from the public and implementing these changes.

In essence, the findings suggest a complex landscape. Moving forward, successful housing reforms in Utah will likely require a balanced approach that addresses both the need for more housing and the sensitivities of existing communities.