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Senate committee hears bill to recalibrate inclusionary zoning in Portland metro
Summary
Lawmakers and stakeholders told the Senate Housing and Development Committee that SB 15 21 would modernize inclusionary zoning in the Portland metro by requiring jurisdictions to fully offset developer cost impacts, lower thresholds outside Portland and require periodic recalibration to avoid stalling housing production.
Sen. Pham opened a public hearing on Senate Bill 15 21 on Feb. 5, 2026, describing the measure as an effort to create "greater guardrails and more opportunities for flexibility for inclusionary zoning programs" after a decade of experience with Portland’s original policy.
Supporters told the Senate Housing and Development Committee that Portland’s initial, unfunded inclusionary zoning (IZ) program discouraged larger projects and reduced housing production. "Ten years later, I remain a champion of inclusionary zoning," Pham said, and added that unfunded mandates had prompted developers to propose buildings of 19 units or fewer to avoid the 20‑unit threshold. Sightline Institute’s Michael Anderson summarized SB 15 21’s core mechanics: the bill applies only in…
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