What is Inclusionary Housing?

Inclusionary Housing refers to municipal and county planning ordinances that require a given share of new construction to be affordable by people with low to moderate incomes

What is the purpose of Inclusionary Housing?

• Poor and working families would have access to a range of opportunities, including good employment opportunities, good schools, a comprehensive transportation system, and safe streets 

• Alleviating the problem of inadequate supply of Affordable Housing

• Avoiding economic and racial segregation, which helps reducing crime rate, failing schools and improving social stability

• Promote economic diversity which will in turn stimulate economic investment, promote neighborhood stability, and increase public safety for all.​

• Provide the inclusion of housing opportunities for residents with a broad range of incomes in all residential projects.​

• This is not intended to impose additional financial burdens on a developer or a residential project.​

Additionally, Inclusionary Housing intends to create housing opportunities in neighborhoods that:​

• Are high market value​

• Attract public investment​

• Provide access to transit, employment, amenities 

How is Baltimore City incorporating Inclusionary Housing?

• NOTICE:  Presently, the City's Inclusionary Housing legislation expired on June 30, 2022.  DHCD remains committed to Inclusionary Housing and new Inclusionary Housing requirements are being considered by Baltimore City Council.
  • Projects that previously received notification of an Inclusionary Housing obligation will continue to be required to enter into an agreement with the Department to make units available. 

  • Projects that provided preliminary information but that have not submitted a formal request for a determination of Inclusionary Housing Units will not be required to continue with their evaluation process.

• To learn more about the program in Baltimore City,  read the Inclusionary Housing legislation and its expiration in 2022.

• In 2020, Baltimore City issued an RFP for an Inclusionary Housing consultant and awarded a contract to Enterprise. Key deliverables for the consultant include an assessment and evaluation of the City’s current Inclusionary Housing Law, recommendations to increase its effectiveness and to work with DHCD, other City agencies, and stakeholders to prepare revised legislation and program guidelines.
   
• DHCD is pleased to present the final Baltimore Inclusionary Housing Requirements Study by Enterprise and HR&A Advisors, Inc.  The study provides an analysis of the former Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and provides recommendations for a new Inclusionary Housing program.

• If you would prefer to receive a hard copy of the Final Report, please leave a voice mail at 410-396-4111 or send us an email here.

• If you are a Limited English Proficient (LEP) and require language access assistance with the report, staff will be able to connect you with an interpreter over the phone.

Resources:

For more information about inclusionary housing and to see how it works in other cities.