Friday, May 29, 2026
HUD Releases Housing Construction Report Focused on Reducing Regulations
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a new report outlining recommendations for state and local governments aimed at reducing barriers to housing construction and home affordability.
The report, titled State and Local Best Practices for Home Construction, includes recommendations focused on lowering construction costs, increasing land availability for housing and shortening construction timelines.
"HUD is encouraging our state and local partners to take inventory of their regulations and policies and make changes that will lower the cost to build and enable more efficient housing supply growth. These Best Practices are an initial list of recommendations to facilitate growth while respecting communities' unique needs. Adding efficiency to local building processes will result in more affordable homeownership opportunities for all Americans," said HUD Secretary Scott Turner.
HUD said regulatory costs account for more than $100,000 of the final price of a new single-family home. The department also said some state and local green energy mandates can add up to $30,000 in construction costs.
According to HUD, deregulation efforts in 2025 are projected to save Americans a collective $212 billion.
The report is part of the department's implementation of Executive Order 14394, signed by President Donald Trump.
HUD said actions taken since Trump returned to office include rescinding the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, ending the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule and removing rules within the Federal Housing Administration single-family mortgage insurance program.
The department also said it has supported homeownership and housing affordability efforts for more than one million Americans, including more than 500,000 first-time homebuyers.
This report was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
The report, titled State and Local Best Practices for Home Construction, includes recommendations focused on lowering construction costs, increasing land availability for housing and shortening construction timelines.
"HUD is encouraging our state and local partners to take inventory of their regulations and policies and make changes that will lower the cost to build and enable more efficient housing supply growth. These Best Practices are an initial list of recommendations to facilitate growth while respecting communities' unique needs. Adding efficiency to local building processes will result in more affordable homeownership opportunities for all Americans," said HUD Secretary Scott Turner.
HUD said regulatory costs account for more than $100,000 of the final price of a new single-family home. The department also said some state and local green energy mandates can add up to $30,000 in construction costs.
According to HUD, deregulation efforts in 2025 are projected to save Americans a collective $212 billion.
The report is part of the department's implementation of Executive Order 14394, signed by President Donald Trump.
HUD said actions taken since Trump returned to office include rescinding the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, ending the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule and removing rules within the Federal Housing Administration single-family mortgage insurance program.
The department also said it has supported homeownership and housing affordability efforts for more than one million Americans, including more than 500,000 first-time homebuyers.
This report was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
