On the National Radar:
The number of kids in cities is falling
Kids on the decline: According to Wall Street Journal reporters Rachel Louise Ensign and Paul Overberg, “the number of children under 18 living in big U.S. cities is down 6% in the past decade… compared with a 1% decline nationwide. The drop is especially stark among families with little kids: The number of children under 5 in big cities fell 15%, compared with a drop of 7% nationwide. Even cities that are gaining population are losing children.”
Housing for families: This is a clarion call: we need cheaper multifamily housing now. Family-oriented units (quadplexes, cottage courts, small apartment buildings) must be allowed in order for families with children to thrive in urban environments.
NC pulls ahead: By eliminating parking minimums across nearly the entire state, North Carolina has encouraged the walkable, family-friendly housing that every community needs. When housing developers don’t have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a parking lot in an urban or suburban center, they pass those savings on to families in the form of lower rents and home prices.
Closer to Home:
Gov Stein Signs Regulatory Reform in Law
What happened: On August 11th, Gov. Stein signed the Regulatory Reform Act of 2026 (SB 445) into law. This bill contains a few housing policy changes, namely that cities with over 50,000 residents must allow ADUs in residential areas (cities can still regulate size and design). We’ll discuss the bill’s other changes in detail in a later piece.
Bipartisan support: State Rep Jeff Zenger (R-Forsyth) said that the bill “removes burdensome regulations, protects property rights, expands affordable housing, and supports businesses, workers, and military families.” With bipartisan support in the General Assembly, this legislative win shows that expanding housing is a winning issue in NC.
What to Do Next:
Comment in Raleigh’s Engagement Portal to Support Exempt Plats
New Raleigh ordinance: Raleigh City staff has prepared a draft ordinance (TC-4-26) to update the City’s subdivision regulations and legalize exempt plats. Read that draft ordinance here!
Comment by Aug 25: Raleigh Planning Commission will be discussing this at their regular meeting Tuesday, 25 August at 9:00am.
This is exactly the moment when City Staff and Planning Commission need to hear your voice. Whether you personally would benefit from this ordinance passing, or you know a project that would. Even if you just want more mid-sized housing and recognize that this ordinance would enable that… let them know!
See You Next Week!
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