North Carolina House bill proposed by Rep. Dahle seeks to relax zoning laws and boost housing development

State Rep. Allison A. Dahle has introduced a new bill designed to enhance residential development choices and dismantle existing barriers to affordable housing throughout North Carolina, as noted by the North Carolina State House.

Officially submitted as HB 1056 on April 27 in the 2025 regular session, the measure carries the short title: ‘Relieving Housing Bottlenecks.’

Below is a summary based on the official bill text, with added clarifications to interpret its main provisions.

The primary intent of the legislation is to lower housing shortages and expenses by mandating that local governments permit residential projects in every commercial zone at a minimum density equal to their least restrictive residential zoning after July 1, 2027. Minimum parking requirements set by local entities would end—excluding federal accessibility requirements. The bill also establishes a statewide program to compensate municipalities for expediting housing permit processing, as well as a revolving loan fund for early-stage workforce housing expenses; most resources from this fund would be earmarked for lower-tier counties. In addition, corporate ownership of single-family properties meant for rental or speculation would be capped at 25 throughout the state, with oversight from the attorney general beginning Oct. 1, 2026. Appropriations include $120 million for the permitting program and $40 million allocated to the loan fund.

Out of the four sponsors of this legislation, Lindsey Prather was the most active bill sponsor during the 2025 session, having introduced 35 measures.

Lawmakers in North Carolina navigate a multi-phase legislative process before a bill becomes law. The initial step is filing a bill, which then moves to a committee for further evaluation. A bill is required to pass three separate readings in both chambers. If amendments occur after passage in either chamber, both must reach agreement on the precise wording. Once the House and Senate pass the same bill, it advances to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 days if the General Assembly is not in session) to sign, veto, or allow the measure to become law automatically.

Further information about recent bills, along with related actions, can be accessed here.

Dahle earned an AA from Peace College and a BA from the University of South Carolina.

Dahle, a Democrat, became a member of the North Carolina State House in 2019 and now represents the 11th House district, taking over from former representative Duane Hall.