Taxes and Regulations

NAHB firmly believes that efforts to further regulate the housing industry must be subject to greater oversight, allowed for increased public participation in the process and be based on sound data. The regulatory process should only be undertaken after careful consideration of the costs and benefits as well as the potential efforts on small businesses.

Impact/Development Fees

• Considering economic pressures on local governments, it’s easy to understand why local governments are increasingly turning to impact fees for the provision of public services.
• Impact fees act as a tax on new housing which significantly adds to the cost of a housing development. The cost is then passed on to prospective home buyers and renters.
• Aside from a tax, impact fees can be a form of exclusionary zoning that would increase housing costs and price out certain groups of prospective home owners from the housing market.
• Impact fees not only lead to an increase in the price of new homes but also an increase in the prices of existing homes, placing new and existing homes out of reach for potential buyers.
• In short, artificially raising housing costs through fees prices out potential home owners which contribute to the housing affordability crisis.
  The building community is dedicated to working with the public and private sector to develop a fee structure that is paired with incentives for development such as reduced parking requirements or density bonuses.

Accessory Dwelling Units

• Accessory Dwelling Units allow some homeowners to gain rental income that can offset the cost of rising property taxes, maintenance and repair costs, and other housing expenses.
• ADUs also allow homeowners the opportunity to provide housing for family members, aging and young adults.
• ADUs can provide an increased opportunity for affordable units scattered around the community that blends with the neighborhood by making use of existing infrastructure and space.