Don’t worry, mayor — we think zoning reform is cool.
Along with announcing a number of new investments and moves that largely focused on bolstering Salt Lake City’s Downtown, two points of Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s State of the City address Tuesday were housing and the city’s zoning reform.
During her speech, Mendenhall alluded to new, expanded housing options that will be presented to the Salt Lake City Council in the coming months. She said the plan would aim to make it easier to build attainable housing across the city.
“I know that for many people, zoning and ordinance updates are about as exciting as watching paint dry, but bear with me, because it’s important,” Mendenhall said. “It’s another way we’re pulling up more seats to the kitchen table, and putting in the leaf to make room.”
Salt Lake City made a number of changes in zoning policy in 2025, including an overhaul of the city’s mixed-use zoning code and needed adjustments to missing middle zones that have been needed for years.
“We’ve also simplified our zoning rules across the board, trimming down our zoning code by nearly 50 pages,” she said. “Clearer rules mean housing can be built faster and with more affordability.
The city has also set the stage for changing its single-family exclusive zones, potentially allowing for more housing types in its R-1 zones.
Mendenhall said in the spring, the city will launch a program that sets aside funds for improvements and repairs to existing affordable housing.
The city will also ensure affordable units stay affordable by locking in deed restrictions. Instead of tearing down buildings to create more housing, she said the program would be a way to incentivize developers to maintain buildings and keep residents where they are.
In addition to creating more affordable housing, she also noted that Salt Lake City’s apartment building boom has adjusted the current market. Mendenhall cited a recent Pew Charitable Trust report, which found that Salt Lake City added housing faster than most major metropolitan areas between 2017 and 2023. During that time, she said, rents dropped by as much as 5.5% in older buildings.
Mendenhall said that during her time in office, Salt Lake City has invested $135 million in affordable housing, and the city has either created or preserved over 7,600 affordable units since 2020. In 2025 alone, city investments have saved renters around $13 million.
Focusing on affordable housing isn’t new to Mendenhall, as she announced the city’s affordable housing dashboard during her 2025 address. She said one of her focuses for 2026 is to continue those efforts. It’s part of a larger effort to care for the city’s shared spaces, which she said is a reflection of how Salt Lakers care for each other.
“That care is incomplete without housing that allows people to remain rooted in our community,” she said. “In Salt Lake City, belonging cannot be temporary. When teachers, service workers, caregivers, elders and young families are pushed out, we all lose stability.”
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