Portsmouth’s Housing Crisis: Dillon’s Law Hampers Efforts to Mandate Affordable Housing in New Developments
Portsmouth, New Hampshire is grappling with a pressing housing crisis driven by various factors, including population growth, limited land availability, and escalating construction costs. However, the city faces a significant roadblock in the form of Dillon’s Law, which restricts its authority to mandate affordable or workforce housing in new developments. Dillon’s Law, originating from an 1868 Iowa court case, imposes limitations on local governments’ powers, allowing them to take actions only explicitly permitted by state law. In terms of housing policy, this legal restriction hampers Portsmouth’s ability to implement measures that promote housing affordability and … Read more