Cities should eliminate parking minimums near transit

The Problem

Mandatory parking requirements force every building to include minimum parking spaces regardless of actual demand. Hidden parking costs add $28,000-$56,000 per space to construction, increasing rents by nearly 20%. Parking mandates fuel sprawl, car dependency, and unaffordable housing.

The Standard

Cities should eliminate mandatory parking requirements, especially within a half-mile of major transit stops. Let the market and developers decide based on actual demand, not outdated formulas.

Where It Exists

Over 3,000 cities worldwide have implemented parking reform. Minneapolis, San Francisco, Buffalo, Austin, and Portland eliminated parking minimums. California eliminated them near transit stops. Austin is the largest U.S. city to fully remove requirements.