How Mixed-Use Zoning Can Expand Affordable Housing Supply: Evidence from Los Angeles.

Los Angeles continues to face a severe housing affordability crisis driven by sustained population growth, rising construction and land costs, and long-standing land use regulations that have constrained housing supply in high-demand areas. Despite significant public and private investment, the production of affordable housing has not kept pace with need, particularly in transit-accessible and job-rich neighborhoods. This policy research paper examines the role of mixed-use zoning as a tool for expanding affordable housing supply in Los Angeles. Using publicly available zoning data, housing permit records, and planning policy documents, the analysis evaluates housing production trends within mixed-use zones and assesses how affordability incentives, development standards, and market conditions influence outcomes. The findings indicate that mixed-use zoning has supported increased housing production in select corridors, especially where zoning flexibility is paired with regulatory incentives and streamlined approval processes. However, affordable housing outcomes vary significantly by location. In many high-demand areas, mixed-use development has primarily resulted in market-rate housing, limiting its effectiveness as a standalone affordability strategy. The paper identifies key implementation challenges, including high development costs, competition between residential and commercial uses, and uneven application of affordability requirements. Based on these findings, the paper offers policy recommendations focused on strengthening affordability incentives within mixed-use developments, aligning zoning policies with transit investments, reducing regulatory complexity, and improving coordination between housing and economic development objectives. The analysis provides evidence-based insights for Los Angeles and other U.S. cities seeking zoning reforms to address housing affordability challenges.