February 2025: A First Look at the Housing Toolkit
For nearly a year, I’ve been on the road talking about “Escaping the Housing Trap” and meeting with local leaders, advocates and residents who are working to make housing more attainable in their communities. In conversation after conversation, I’ve seen the same pattern: Cities want to act, but they get stuck. The barriers aren’t just political; they’re embedded in outdated zoning codes, permitting processes and regulations that make it nearly impossible to build the housing people need.
In response, this month we are launching the “Housing Trap Toolkit” — a step-by-step guide to help cities cut through the red tape and take meaningful action. This is the first in a three-part series designed to give local leaders a step-by-step guide to reform housing policy from the bottom up.
A First Look at the Toolkit
This first installment focuses on regulatory reform — giving cities a clear, actionable plan to unlock housing development. We are not trying to solve every problem, but we are helping local leaders tackle the biggest obstacles and build momentum for broader reform. This toolkit covers six steps:
Legalizing duplexes and triplexes in single-family zones.
Allowing backyard cottages (ADUs) without excessive restrictions.
Eliminating housing size restrictions so smaller homes can be built.
Removing unnecessary lot size minimums to allow more flexibility.
Repealing outdated parking mandates that drive up costs.
Streamlining the approval process so small projects don’t face years of delay.
Each of these steps is something cities can do right now, without waiting on state or federal action. Cities that take these actions will be designated as "Housing-Ready Cities," and Strong Towns will use our media platform to celebrate and promote them as leaders in housing reform. We want to build momentum — and a little fear of missing out — so that more places take bold steps to address their housing challenges.
Why This Matters
Strong Towns has always been about helping cities take control of their own future — without waiting for action from Washington, D.C. or state capitols. This is especially important when it comes to housing, where we can do so much from the bottom up.
As a key supporter of Strong Towns, I wanted you to be among the first to see what we’ve been working on. If you’d like to preview the full toolkit before we release it more broadly, just reply to this email and I’ll send it your way when it's ready to go.
Thank you for being part of this movement. With your support, we’re able to put this tool in the hands of the people who need it most. It’s going to make a big difference, which is why I’m excited to share this next step with you.
With gratitude,
Chuck Marohn
Founder and President, Strong Towns