Establishment of HUD Office of Community Land Use and Zoning

(a) In general Section 4 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3533) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Office of community land use and zoning (2) Establishment There is established in the Department, in the Office of the Secretary, the Office of Community Land Use and Zoning. (3) Director There is established the position of Director of the Office of Community Land Use and Zoning. The Director shall be the head of the Office of Community Land Use and Zoning and shall be appointed by, and shall report to, the Secretary. Such position shall be a career-reserved position in the Senior Executive Service. (4) Mission The mission of the Office of Community Land Use and Zoning shall be to encourage communities to pursue land use policies that increase the availability and affordability of housing. (5) Functions The Director shall have primary responsibility within the Department for all activities and matters relating to land use and zoning reform, including the following: (A) To collect, process, assemble, coordinate research, and disseminate information on State and local regulations and policies affecting the creation and maintenance of affordable housing. (B) To provide technical assistance to State and local communities regarding State and local regulations and policies affecting the creation and maintenance of affordable housing. (C) To maintain a Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse and a database of land use policies across the United States. (D) To administer the Unlocking Possibilities Program under section 105 of the Community Housing Act of 2026. (E) To administer the Shared Equity Housing Resource Center established under section 203(b) of the Community Housing Act of 2026. (F) To issue, not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, guidance and best practices regarding State and local land use and zoning regulations and policies affecting the creation and maintenance of affordable housing, and to maintain and update such guidance and best practices regularly.. (b) Transfer; Redesignation The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall provide for— (1) the transfer of the administration of the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse of the Department, which as of the date of the enactment of this Act is the responsibility of the Office of Policy Development and Research, to the Director of the Office of Community Land Use and Zoning established under section 4(i) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act, as added by the amendment made by subsection (a) of this section; and (2) the redesignation of the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse as the Community Land Use and Zoning Research Center. (c) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for costs of personnel for and activities of the Office of Community Land Use and Zoning.