Deregulation can get Idaho out of its affordable housing woes | Opinion

Our nation is sinking into a protracted housing crisis, and Idaho, the second-least affordable market in the nation, is at the leading edge. With an estimated shortage of 44,500 homes and the statewide median sale price for a single-family home estimated at $507,400, it is unsurprising that 67% of residents view the cost of buying or renting as a “big problem.”

The next generation is increasingly locked out of homeownership, the foundation of a free society. This grave threat is not the product of normal market cycles. It is fueled by bad policy.

While macroeconomic factors play a role, we are dealing with significant localized artificial scarcity. Ever since the unprecedented case Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. gave local governments broad authority to infringe on property rights, zoning regulations have ventured beyond the preservation of safety and order into bureaucratic central planning dictating exactly what can be built.

If these trends continue, the vast majority of citizens will be forced into permanent rentership, suppressing the primary vehicle for generational wealth creation and deep community roots which naturally fight poverty. Homeownership stabilizes families, improves educational outcomes and spurs civic engagement. The alternative is a society of renters all too often economically dependent on government programs.

There is another way. I am introducing a suite of legislation to unleash free market solutions by cutting the red tape standing in the way of attainable homes.

S1352, “Legalizing the Starter Home Again,” allows smaller lots, which would reduce sprawl and lead to price points more young families can afford.

S1353, “Ending Bans on Twin Homes and Duplexes,” would empower builders to meet market demand in residential areas.

S1354, “Lifting Prohibitions on Accessory Dwelling Units,” would restore the freedom for owners to share their property with adult children, aging parents or small-scale renters, with options from detached cottages to secondary suites.

Other bills we are working on are geared toward protecting modern manufactured housing, as well as ending permitting purgatory by establishing statutory timelines for local governments to process applications. Time is money, and unreasonable delays hurt everyday buyers.

While concerns about density and local control are understandable, we must first acknowledge that not all density is created equal. Vertical density, characterized by large rental-only apartment buildings, yields dependence. Horizontal density, characterized by citizens buying and improving their own property, preserves our communities by encouraging independence and responsibility. Furthermore, there is no control more local than individuals choosing what to do with their property. This legislation aligns with the state’s primary responsibility: protecting individuals’ rights.

This legislation also respects local rules and standards based on safety and infrastructure. The intent is parity: If a single-family home would be denied a permit due to an infrastructure issue, a cottage could be denied for the same reason.

The next generation will either thank us for restoring the free market or live with the results of our inaction: a state of permanent renters priced out of the American Dream. Let’s choose freedom.

Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene, represents the 4th Legislative District.