Zoning In Houston

Houston is infamous for lacking a formal zoning code. It enables Houston residents to enjoy affordable housing within city limits, but can also create nuisances that can drive down the properties of homeowners. Houston's anti-government streak is an anomaly even for the lone star state, it's the only major city in Texas and beyond which does not have zoning on the books.

Local economists claim that this laissez-faire type approach to city housing allows for the construction industry to more accurately respond to the demands of the market. When there is an increased demand for housing in cities with tight zoning laws, prices soar because there is more demand than supply. Broad-scale development regulations force particular patterns of development,
People from outside of Houston may find a strange to see a plastic surgery clinic next to a middle school, or an erotic clothing store next to the city’s busiest mall and tallest skyscraper. This may not only be anti-aesthetic but if a nightclub or auto-repair shop opens in a neighborhood it can also drive down the value of nearby homes. Homeowners want their home to be an investment and want the value of their house to increase overtime. In Houston, this drawback in is partially addressed through deed restrictions. Houston developers can implement deed restrictions in neighborhoods which can restrict the construction of commercial buildings in residential areas. Another anomaly in Houston is that the city will represent residents when they attempt to enforce deed restrictions, giving homeowner associations’ the teeth to self-regulate their
All residents regardless of income level want to live in a beautiful and well constructed city and Houstonians have found ways to work around the lack of zoning regulations. From Houston’s case example, the lack of zoning does not mean a lack of rules, but it does mean a lack of thoughtful planning and consideration of who the rules benefit. It is commonly the more affluent neighborhoods that have strong homeowner associations to police deed restrictions, while lower-income neighborhoods with weak or non-existent deed restrictions are left defenseless. Government regulations must balance the interests of residents to have aesthetic neighborhoods with the need for the construction industry to respond to market demands for housing so prices can be kept