Land Use Policy and Racial Segregation

ABSTRACT Land use policies, though seemingly race‐neutral, can inadvertently contribute to racial segregation. Our study focuses on examining the impact of minimum lot size regulations on the likelihood of ethnic minorities integrating into a community, which reveals compelling evidence suggesting that black households exhibit a preference for smaller minimum lot sizes compared to white households. Specifically, our findings indicate that black households are willing to pay $934 to $2126 less annually for every additional acre of minimum lot size, accounting for approximately 3.36%–7.65% of the average house value, after controlling for various other factors influencing housing preferences. The result suggests that minimum lot size regulations can contribute to racial segregation not solely through income disparities but also voluntary choices made by different racial groups. With smaller minimum lot size requirements, communities can foster greater inclusivity and reduce the extent of racial segregation from housing policies.