Illinois: Pritzker to Propose Statewide Zoning Law to Speed Housing Development

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As part of his State of the State address, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is expected to propose a new statewide zoning law called Build Up Illinois Developments, which would limit the zoning control that local governments currently enjoy. The proposal would reduce restrictions on multi-unit housing in areas that are zoned residential, including allowing the construction of “granny flats”, backyard cottages, and above garage apartments. The proposal also includes $250 million in capital funding to support these new housing initiatives. The Governor’s proposal is designed to address the state’s housing shortage. A study by the University of Illinois concluded that the state would need to see 227,000 housing units constructed over the next five years to meet projected demand.


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