Does the idea of repealing zoning regulations sound radical? If so, Houston, Texas must be the most radical city in America. Its citizens have wisely voted down referendums to impose zoning not once, not twice, but three times in 1948, 1962, and 1993. More than 80 years later, Houston still thrives without them.

And here’s the kicker: Houston’s homes cost 6% less per square foot than Jacksonville’s despite having a population density 169% higher. That’s not a statistical fluke. It’s proof that people can live, work, and build communities without layers of government red tape dictating where and how they may use their land.

Source: Realtor.com & World Population Review, August 2025

Zoning Drives Prices Higher

Zoning regulations dictate:

• Minimum setbacks from sidewalks
• Maximum units allowed per acre
• Maximum height restrictions

Each one of these things forces developers to buy more land per home, pushing up the cost of every single unit. Add to that the following:

• The legal and consulting fees to navigate complex rules
• Delays from city agencies that keep builders paying interest on loans
• The cost of lobbying or campaign contributions to get a zoning variance
• The overhead of running a zoning bureaucracy, which shows up in your property taxes

This is regulation as a wealth filter. The wealthy use zoning to protect their neighborhoods and property values, while working-class families are priced out. The unstated motto of many zoning advocates could be: Keep affordable housing and the people who need it out of my backyard.

The Libertarian Alternative

Libertarians believe that property rights are the foundation of a free society. If you own land, you (not the government) should decide how to use it, so long as you aren’t directly harming others.

Without zoning, cities can still protect residents through simple, targeted rules:

• Keep heavy industry a minimum distance from homes
• Set reasonable safety and environmental standards

That’s it. The rest is left to people and the market to decide, which is exactly why Houston has a dynamic mix of neighborhoods, thriving business areas, and more affordable housing options.

What Repealing Zoning Could Do for Florida

Florida’s housing crisis isn’t going away under our current system. In fact, it’s getting worse. Home prices continue to outpace wages, and government-imposed limits on what can be built, and where, make the problem worse every year.

If Florida repealed or drastically reduced zoning regulations:

• Developers could build more units on less land, lowering prices
• Housing supply could grow fast enough to meet demand
• First-time buyers and renters could actually afford to stay in their communities
• Our cities could adapt quickly to changing needs without years of bureaucratic delay

Florida lawmakers say they want affordable housing. If they mean it, the single most effective step they could take is to get the government out of the way.

A Plea to Our Leaders

It is not “radical” to let people use their property freely. It is not “radical” to believe that the market can create affordable housing more efficiently than a maze of regulations. What is radical and harmful is the current system that artificially drives up costs and locks thousands of Floridians out of home ownership.

The Libertarian Party of Duval County calls on Florida’s government to take a serious look at the Houston model. The numbers speak for themselves. Property rights, free markets, and less government control are the keys to solving our housing crisis.

We meet the first Thursday of each month at 6 PM, Leci's Italian Restaurant, 9475 Philips Hwy, Jacksonville, FL. If you’re in town, please join us!

Ricardo Mejias
Chair, Duval County Libertarian Party
Website: https://duval.lpf.org
Email: [email protected] 

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