Survey: Seattle-Area Residents Support Upzoning

To fight the growing housing crisis, most King County residents support an end to single-family zoning and accelerated housing development, according to a new poll.

2 minute read

January 5, 2022, 9:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Olympic Mountains

oksana.perkins / Shutterstock

A poll of King County residents shows that a "slim majority" support ending single-family zoning in Seattle neighborhoods, reports Gene Balk in the Seattle Times.

The survey presented the 501 respondents with questions about several approaches to alleviating the region's affordable housing shortage. While 55 percent supported increased density in the city, slightly fewer—51 percent—supported the change in nearby suburban neighborhoods.

The fight over single-family zoning has been raging in communities across the country as cities and states move to eliminate the designation that affordable housing advocates often call "exclusionary zoning," drawing attention to the more affluent nature of most single-family neighborhoods. Last October, in an effort to acknowledge diverse existing housing forms and lay the groundwork for zoning reform, the city of Seattle moved to rename single-family zoning to 'neighborhood residential' zoning. But opponents argue that rezoning can impact neighborhood character, increase demand for limited on-street parking, and put a strain on local roads and other infrastructure.

In what Balk calls an "interesting twist," 83 percent of respondents said they would prefer to live in a single-family home themselves. But for those who can't afford it, advocates say accelerated development is needed to make housing in the region more affordable, and 63 percent of residents want to see more housing on "underdeveloped" land. However, less than half of surveyed residents wanted to see reduced parking requirements for new construction, despite indications that parking requirements raise the cost of housing and induce car ownership and congestion.

Saturday, January 1, 2022 in The Seattle Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee