Fact Sheet: Expanding Access to Housing in North Carolina

Expanding Access to Housing in North Carolina 

Stable housing opens doors of economic opportunity, but too many people at a range of income levels are struggling to find housing they can afford. Governor Stein is taking action to get more homes built and costs lowered for families.  

North Carolina’s Housing Crisis 

• Through 2029, North Carolina is projected to be more than 750,000 homes short of demand.  

• Approximately half of all renters spend more than 30% of their incomes on housing. 

• Nearly 30% of older adults in North Carolina spend more than one‑third of their incomes on housing, placing them at increased risk of instability and housing insecurity. 

• From 2024 to 2025, North Carolina saw the ninth-highest rental price increases in the country.   

How We’re Responding 

• The Stein administration is using every tool at its disposal to build and preserve more homes. 

• In May, Governor Stein signed an executive order that aims to increase housing opportunities and affordability across North Carolina.   

  • His executive order calls on state agencies to prioritize housing supply, affordability, access, and resilience in planning and policy.  

  • It also calls on the state to work with stakeholders from local governments and across the private sector to ensure the availability of more housing of all types that more North Carolinians at all income levels can afford. 

Governor Stein is also seeking to strengthen the housing and construction workforce to speed up the rate at which houses are built while increasing skills and job opportunities. 

Making It Easier to Build More Homes 

• Governor Stein is committed to cutting red tape to make it easier and less costly to build.  

• This summer, Governor Stein signed Senate Bill 445 and House Bill 162 into law.  

• These bills removed requirements for a minimum number of parking spaces – requirements that make it harder to find lots to build and that add unnecessary costs – and allowed accessory dwelling units (ADUs) so that more homes can be built per lot.    

• Senate Bill 445 also allows mixed-use zoning so that people can live near their jobs, although only in a few communities. Governor Stein continues to advocate for this policy to be expanded statewide.  

• The state budget that Governor Stein signed into law includes $35 million for subsidized housing.  

Looking Ahead 

Housing doesn’t get built overnight, and success will take coordination among private partners, nonprofits, and all levels of government. It has taken decades of underinvestment to arrive at this shortfall, and it will take sustained commitment to solve this problem. But the work must begin today.  

Governor Stein and his team are committed to:  

• Supporting local governments with technical assistance and other resources to increase pathways to housing development, including for small developers, landlords, and community organizations.  

• Promoting policy reforms to cut red tape and create more housing opportunities near job centers across the state.  

• Working with key stakeholders to bring targeted property tax relief to NC homeowners.  

• Identifying best practices and high-impact success stories for expansion and replication.