Austin becomes largest U.S. city to waive minimum parking requirements

Austin, Texas recently became the largest city in the United States to stop requiring new developments to set a minimum amount of parking.

The Austin City Council voted 8-2 earlier this month to eliminate parking requirements in an effort to fight climate change and spur more housing construction as Texas’s capitol grapples with a housing affordability crisis. Supporters of the measure say minimum parking rules drive up housing costs and prompt more people to be dependent on cars for transportation. Opponents counter that easing or eliminating parking requirements will cause parking to spill over onto neighboring streets and clog traffic.

The new parking rule does not prevent developers from adding parking. They will be able to decide how much parking they need for their project.

To create more affordable housing, Austin officials are also considering measures to allow up to three housing units in most places where single-family homes are allowed and reduce minimum lot sizes for certain multifamily buildings.