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25 City Tools for Housing Affordability and Developer Assistance
Cities use both well-established and innovative policy and finance tools available to them to support the development and housing needs of their communities.
Minnesota cities regularly assist with the construction, preservation, and rehabilitation of housing that meets unique, local housing needs and is affordable, safe, and high quality.
View assistance for developers and builders
View assistance for residents with housing affordability
While not a complete list, below are 25 tools cities use to address housing affordability for residents and help builders and developers construct or redevelop housing units their communities need across the spectrum of housing — including senior living, single-family new development, multi-family workforce rentals, and transitional housing.
Additional resources:
- In the news: See these city housing and development tools in action
- View this 25 City Tools for Housing Affordability and Developer Assistance table as a PDF
Assistance for developers and builders
| Financial Assistance | |
| 1. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) | TIF takes the increases in tax capacity and property taxes from development or redevelopment to pay upfront public costs. |
| 2. Local Tax Abatement | Property tax abatement reduces the amount of taxes owed for a specific period, which often translates to lower-cost units. |
| 3. Planning and Development-Related Fee Waivers | Cities incur costs to build development-related infrastructure. Some cities reduce fees, such as water/sewer fees, for affordable housing. |
| 4. City Fee Reductions | Cities often reduce other fees, including park dedication, for housing projects that meet locally identified housing needs. |
| Land Use and Zoning | |
| 5. Low or No Cost City-Supplied Land | Cities have sold city-owned land at low/no cost for the construction of mixed-income and affordable homes. |
| 6. Higher Density Zoning | Higher density zoning allows for more units to be built on a lot, which reduces land costs per unit. |
| 7. Lot Size Reduction | Many cities allow for smaller lot sizes in a residential development to encourage building of more affordable homes. |
| 8. Elimination of Minimum Building Size Requirements | Elimination of minimum building size requirements allows for the construction of smaller, more affordable homes. |
| 9. Elimination of Single-Family Zoning | Eliminating single-family zoning can increase housing capacity by allowing construction of multi-family units in all residential zones. |
| 10. Parking Minimum Modifications | Cities ensure newly built residential developments provide off-street parking for the additional vehicles of new residents. Some cities reduce minimum parking requirements for certain developments. |
| 11. Density Bonuses | Density bonuses allow builders to increase the allowed dwelling units per acre in exchange for affordable housing in the development. |
| 12. Adjustment of Setbacks | Setbacks are the space between the house and the front, rear, and side property lines, and can be adjusted to meet unique project needs. |
| 13. Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Bonus | A FAR bonus allows increased density by increasing the buildable space relative to the area of the land upon which the building is sited. |
| Permitting and Review Process | |
| 14. Streamlined Review Process | Many cities have increased coordination between departments for permit review and employed “one-stop permit systems.” |
| 15. Same or Similar Plan Review | Cities reduce the plan review fee and expedite the review process when there are multiple homes with the same/similar building plan. |
| 16. Online Permitting Review | Some cities have funded online permitting systems with real-time inspection progress updates and online submission of building plans. |
Assistance for residents with housing affordability
| Land Use and Zoning | |
| 17. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) | ADUs are smaller residential units on the same lot as a primary home. ADUs provide additional affordable housing options. |
| 18. Inclusionary Zoning | City-required minimum percentage of affordable units in new developments that are often paired with city incentives. |
| Financial Assistance | |
| 19. Local Housing Trust Funds | City-dedicated revenue to spur affordable housing, including construction of affordable housing and down payment assistance. |
20. Low Income Rental Classification Program (LIRC)
| LIRC or 4d allows reduction in property taxes if the property owner keeps at least 20% of the units affordable. Some cities offer added incentives, like payment of the state application, free energy assessments, and grants for energy efficiency upgrades. |
| 21. First-Time Homebuyer Assistance | Some cities provide grants or deferred loans to help first-time home buyers with closing costs and other costs in the homebuying process. |
| 22. Down Payment Assistance | City funding to help qualified homebuyers with grants and loans to assist with the cost of a down payment. |
| Preservation | |
| 23. Home Rehabilitation and Preservation Programs | City-provided deferred loans to help qualifying homeowners for certain maintenance and repairs. |
| 24. Housing Improvement Areas (HIAs) | HIAs are defined areas where housing improvements in condominium or townhome complexes can be financed with city assistance. |
| 25. Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing Preservation (NOAH) | Cities provide financial assistance for NOAH preservation and/or have policies to protect low-income tenants from rent increases when affordable rental properties are sold. |