Housing affordability is a growing concern in many communities, yet the cost of rent is often shaped by local zoning laws more than anything else. Restrictions on building height, density, mixed-use developments, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) all influence how much it costs to rent a home or apartment.
For local elected officials, understanding the financial realities behind rental pricing is crucial when making zoning decisions. That’s why I created a rent calculation tool—a simple financial calculator that lets users see how zoning regulations impact the affordability of housing.
This tool helps policymakers, planners, and community leaders:
- See how property costs drive rental prices
- Understand the financial impact of zoning restrictions
- Evaluate policies that could make rent more affordable
By running different zoning scenarios, officials can explore how allowing duplexes, reducing setback requirements, or enabling mixed-use development could lead to lower rent and a more sustainable housing market.
Keep reading to learn how to use the calculator and start making data-driven zoning decisions.
How This Calculator Can Help Local Elected Officials
Zoning laws play a major role in determining the cost of rent. Restrictions on building height, lot coverage, mixed-use development, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) all impact the financial viability of rental housing. When zoning rules limit the number of units that can be built on a property, they increase costs per unit, making rent more expensive.
This calculator helps local elected officials see how zoning choices affect rent by:
- Demonstrating the financial impact of zoning restrictions—for example, how requiring large lot sizes or excessive parking affects rental prices.
- Exploring mixed-use zoning scenarios—showing how allowing a mix of residential and commercial units can stabilize rent prices.
- Highlighting affordability trade-offs—helping officials understand what regulations drive up costs and where there’s room for flexibility.
By using this tool, decision-makers can evaluate zoning policies based on real financial data, rather than assumptions. The goal is to help rethink outdated zoning laws and encourage policies that support sustainable, affordable housing solutions.
How to Use the Rent Calculator
Using the calculator is simple. You don’t need any special software—just follow these steps:
- Download the HTML file from the link below.
- Open the file in your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari). No internet connection is needed. You can do this by dragging the file to an open modern web browser. Or right clicking on the HTML file and opening it in a browser.
- Enter your numbers—such as mortgage payments, maintenance costs, and desired profit margins.
- View the results to see how these factors influence rental prices.
Click here to download the Rent Calculator
This tool makes it easy to see how different costs add up and where there’s room to lower rent while still keeping a property financially sustainable.
Final Thoughts
This financial calculator is meant to spark conversations about what affordable rent really means and how owners, renters, and policymakers can work together to create better housing solutions.
Try it out and see how different cost factors impact rental prices. Whether you’re a renter trying to understand pricing or a property owner looking for sustainable options, this tool provides a transparent way to explore affordability.
Download the Rent Calculator Now and start running the numbers for yourself!
