Inclusionary zoning policies are designed to enable lower- and moderate-income households to buy or rent property in middle- to upper-income communities. Typically, this is achieved by requiring developers to set aside an affordable proportion of units in market-rate residential developments for low-income households in exchange for development rights or zoning variances. In the Is Inclusionary Zoning Inclusionary? report, MacArthur-grantee RAND Corporation examines 11 inclusionary zoning programs across the United States to determine the extent to which the policies serve lower-income families, provide recipients with access to low-poverty neighborhoods, and residentially assign them to high-performing schools, thereby promoting the academic achievement and educational attainment of their children.
