Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction
Mar 18, 2026
Mar 18, 2026
Summary
Aims to make housing more affordable by ordering government agencies to review and remove unnecessary rules that slow down and raise the cost of building homes.
What problem does this solve?
Unnecessary government rules and slow approval processes have made new homes too expensive for many people. This order tells federal agencies to find and change these rules to lower the cost of building houses.
Who does this affect?
- Homebuilders and developers
- Prospective homebuyers
- State and local governments
What does this order do?
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Targeting federal regulatory barriers to residential development
Eases water protection rules
Orders the Army and EPA to review and change rules about stormwater, wetlands, and other bodies of water to lower housing construction costs.
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Targeting federal regulatory barriers to residential development
Reduces energy efficiency standards
Directs agencies to change or get rid of costly energy and water efficiency rules for new homes, including manufactured housing.
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Streamlining federal permitting requirements for residential development
Speeds up environmental reviews
Tells the Council on Environmental Quality to create guidance that reduces burdens on housing construction under the National Environmental Policy Act.
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Boosting housing affordability through state and local regulatory best practices
Guides states on lowering housing costs
Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to create and promote best practices for state and local governments to make home building cheaper and faster.
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Facilitating new residential construction in opportunity zones
Promotes building in opportunity zones
Requires the Treasury and HUD to find ways to use Opportunity Zone tax breaks to encourage the construction of single-family homes.
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Streamlining federal permitting requirements for residential development
Simplifies historic preservation rules
Directs the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to create guidance that lessens the burden of historic preservation reviews on housing projects.
What is the real world impact?
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Boosts the construction industry
Removes regulations and speeds up permits, which directly benefits homebuilders and developers by potentially increasing their profits and encouraging more construction projects.
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Makes homeownership more attainable
Aims to lower the price of new homes by cutting down on expensive and time-consuming government rules, making it easier for more Americans to buy a house.
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Prioritizes development over environmental protection
Eases rules on wetlands, stormwater, and energy efficiency, which could harm the environment and lead to less sustainable housing in order to speed up construction and lower costs for developers.
When does this start?
This order contains multiple deadlines for agencies, starting with a 60-day deadline for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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Boosting housing affordability through state and local regulatory best practices
Deadline for state and local best practices
Within 60 days of March 13, 2026, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development must develop and share best practices for states and localities to promote affordable housing.