Housing discussions often center around the size of new homes being built in neighborhoods. Beyond deciding the dimensions and style of their own homes, some advocate for regulations that impose maximums, minimums, and aesthetic restrictions on their entire community. This inevitably raises broader questions about individual rights and who should make such decisions, property owners or the government.
Where Utah Ranks
According to an analysis from 2022, Utah boasts the largest average home size in the country, measuring 2,800 square feet. For context, the median U.S. home size was 1,595 square feet in 1980, 2,057 square feet in 2000, and 2,261 square feet in 2020. The state’s larger homes are often attributed to cultural preference for larger families, available land, and its historically affordable housing market.
Large homes like this are joking referred to as “McMansions”
The Loss of Personal Preference
In many cases, individuals haven’t had the freedom to determine their home or lot size. Since zoning was introduced in the 1920s, the government has steadily increased its involvement in regulating the details of home construction. Lot sizes are almost universally regulated by the government through local zoning laws. Home sizes are required to meet a minimum size as well, although a state law passed in 2021 limited such restrictions in Utah.
A Question of Fairness
The trend toward regulating lot sizes, home sizes, and styles can have significant implications for housing affordability. When local governments impose minimum square footage or mandate specific aesthetic standards, the cost of building a home increases. This can drive up home prices and make it difficult for first-time buyers or middle-income families to enter the market. By restricting what can be built, these regulations limit options for those who might prefer smaller, more affordable homes.
Small lot home.
Restoring Individual Choice
Ultimately, on the topic of home sizes, what is needed is the return of individual choice. Families and individuals have diverse needs that a standardized approach simply cannot address. A new family on a tight budget may need to save money and purchase a small home on a small lot, while a retiree might have the means for a home with a spacious office or guest rooms for visiting family. Whatever the situation or personal desire, property owners should have the flexibility to build homes that reflect their specific lifestyle requirements, rather than being forced to conform to arbitrary zoning restrictions.
Local Government Policy Analyst
Lee is the Local Government Policy Analyst at Libertas Institute. He has had a lifelong passion for research, writing, entrepreneurship, local government, and building relationships with people from all walks of life.