Zoning Laws and the Effects on Seattle Businesses

A large swath of Seattle’s land zoned for residential development only allows single-family homes. It’s clear this is contributing to the number of available homes, especially affordable ones.

And there are potentially long-term negative effects of Seattle’s zoning laws on the business community.

Matthew Gardner, chief economist at Windermere Real Estate, told Seattle’s Morning News that his biggest concern for the city is housing prices.

If a company is looking to relocate, there are several key factors. One is a talented workforce, which Seattle has. Another is how much a company has to pay its employees, with a city’s cost of living being a major component. Read More.