Exploring the Impacts of Zoning and Upzoning on Housing Development: A Quasi-experimental Analysis at the Parcel Level

This study investigates the impacts of upzoning and higher density zoning on housing development at the parcel level in the city of Portland (Oregon) during the period from 2000 to 2017. The study uses a quasi-experimental design to compare upzoned parcels and parcels in higher density zones with their corresponding control parcels that are identified through propensity score matching. The study shows that both upzoning and higher density zoning led to significantly greater development probabilities, higher development densities, and more housing supply. Upzoning could be an effective policy tool for increasing housing supply, particularly when it is applied to vacant and underutilized parcels.