Lee Sands

Lee Sands

Local Government Policy Analyst

lee@libertas.institute

Lee is the Local Government Policy Analyst at Libertas Institute, drawing on his research and entrepreneurial experience to inform and assist elected officials and the general public. He focuses on issues most relevant to local governments, such as land use, taxation, and business regulation. His work addresses the regulatory hurdles that matter most to families, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.

A native of rural northeast Florida, Lee moved to Provo, Utah in 2004. Before joining Libertas, his path ran through the private sector in technical writing, journalism, and small business, giving him firsthand experience navigating the regulatory environment he now works to improve. He graduated from BYU and attended the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, the outdoors, history, and creative pursuits.

Lee Sands's Articles

If local government acts in the deregulatory, free market ways described here, then the goal of getting 35,000 starter homes built could be met or even exceeded — all at no cost to the taxpayer.
While supply and demand is basic economics, some doubt that building more homes will have the positive effect needed on prices.
Strict zoning regulations don’t just contribute to the proliferation of HOAs in cities. Strict zoning also causes HOAs to appear in areas you might not expect them — small towns, areas outside of the city limits, and even throughout rural and semi rural areas.
If we don’t want our home prices to be as high as California’s, what we need to do is stop debating a single twin home, but look at the real underlying problem on trial — our strict California-style zoning.
“Should we become a city?” Residents in five areas of Utah are asking this question. To help understand the implications of achieving city status, let's explore a few fundamental questions.