Incentive Zoning and Density Bonuses

Incentive zoning can help to advance a community's physical, cultural and social goals by allowing land developers to provide specific amenities and benefits in exchange for zoning incentives, such as density bonuses. Density bonuses allow developers to build more units than would normally be allowed in a zoning district in exchange for preserving and enhancing designated resources or providing other public benefits. Communities have successfully used density bonuses as incentives for the protection of important open spaces and for the provision of affordable housing.

Other incentives commonly offered to developers are adjustments to height restrictions or modifications of some other requirements in the underlying zoning ordinance.