About this book:

Ever wonder why your rent is so high, your neighborhood feels empty, or your favorite local shop closed down? Look no further than the asphalt desert surrounding you. *The Minimum Parking Requirement* exposes the hidden zoning rule that silently dictated the shape of modern America—forcing developers to build parking lots instead of homes, prioritizing car storage over community, and engineering the scarcity we feel every day. From the mid-century origins of this "forgotten" mandate to its devastating ripple effects on housing affordability, climate resilience, and social equity, this book reveals how a well-intentioned attempt to cure traffic congestion became a primary driver of urban decline.

But this isn't just a eulogy for the vibrant streets we lost; it’s a roadmap for the cities we can build. Through rigorous history and compelling case studies, the book chronicles the rising reform movement where planners, activists, and policymakers are finally decoupling parking from progress. Discover how cities are reclaiming millions of square feet for housing, parks, and people—and why the end of parking minimums might be the single most powerful lever we have to fix the American city. If you want to understand why your city looks the way it does, and how to change it, start here.