EO-14394

Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction

Date Issued

Mar 13, 2026

Status

Active

AI Analysis Summary

America First Perspective

This Executive Order aims to dismantle regulatory barriers that hinder affordable home construction, which can indirectly benefit small businesses by fostering economic stability and growth. By targeting federal regulations related to stormwater, wetlands, and energy efficiency, the order seeks to reduce construction costs and streamline processes. This aligns with the America First agenda by promoting homeownership, which can lead to increased consumer spending and economic mobility. The potential reduction in property tax burdens and increased insurability can also lower costs for small business owners operating in these communities.

Sources linked — our analysis adds context.

Small Business Impact

Main Street Wins

The Executive Order's focus on reducing regulatory barriers can lead to lower construction costs and faster development timelines, benefiting small construction firms and related industries. By promoting affordable housing, it may increase disposable income for families, boosting local spending at small businesses. Streamlining federal permitting processes can also reduce bureaucratic delays, helping small developers and contractors thrive.

Risks to Watch

There is a potential risk that easing environmental regulations could lead to long-term ecological impacts, which might increase insurance costs for businesses in affected areas. Additionally, while deregulation can reduce immediate costs, it could also lead to regulatory uncertainty, making it challenging for small businesses to plan long-term strategies.

America First Small Business Analysis — includes BLS, Census BFS, and FBI crime trends

Historical Cycle Connection

Similar deregulation efforts were seen during the Reagan Administration, focusing on reducing federal oversight to stimulate economic growth.
The Trump Administration also prioritized reducing regulatory burdens, particularly in the housing and construction sectors, to boost economic activity.
The Obama Administration's efforts to streamline federal permitting processes laid groundwork for subsequent regulatory reforms.
Historically, waves of deregulation have been linked to economic booms, as seen in the late 20th century with the telecommunications and airline industries.

Economic & Data Context

BLS / Economic Indicators

The current unemployment rate of 4.3% suggests a stable job market, which can be further bolstered by increased construction activity. Although specific crime data is unavailable, reducing regulatory barriers can potentially lead to economic growth, which historically correlates with lower crime rates. Increased small business formation, as indicated by Census BFS data, could be further stimulated by this order's emphasis on reducing unnecessary regulations.

Community Poll

Does this executive order help or hurt independent Americans?

Full Text

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)] [Presidential Documents] [Pages 13207-13210] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-05388] Presidential Documents Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 18, 2026 / Presidential Documents [[Page 13207]] Executive Order 14394 of March 13, 2026 Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose. The American dream of homeownership depends on a dynamic housing market in which a varied inventory of new homes is built and renovated each year. Layers of unnecessary regulatory barriers, slow permitting processes, and onerous mandates at all levels of government have delayed construction, restricted development, and driven up the costs of new housing. These constraints have made housing less affordable for many Americans. It is the policy of my Administration to reduce regulatory barriers to building homes and to steward taxpayer dollars in a manner that promotes housing affordability. Sec. 2. Targeting Federal Regulatory Barriers to Residential Development. (a) The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall review and revise requirements related to stormwater, wetlands, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water to reduce housing construction and ownership costs, streamline regulatory and agency decision-making processes, reduce property tax burdens, and increase insurability, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law. Such requirements shall include: (i) the Construction General Permit for stormwater discharges from construction activity; (ii) federally issued Total Maximum Daily Loads; (iii) construction site and post-construction requirements for Municipal Separate Stormwater System permits; (iv) Federal standards for permits under section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. 1344, for the discharge of dredged and fill material into waters of the United States; and (v) Federal standards for assumption of dredge and fill permitting by States and tribes under section 404(g) of CWA. (b) The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shall, within their respective authorities, consider eliminating unduly burdensome rules and reforming programs that constrain residential development and impede housing affordability, especially the construction of affordable single-family homes as well as suburban and exurban neighborhoods, including, as needed: (i) the Economic Development Administration's guidelines and investment priorities concerning development density; (ii) the Department of Transportation's Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program; (iii) the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing Program; and (iv) the FHFA's guidelines and regulations regarding chattel lending for manufactured housing and incentivizing low-balance home mortgages. [[Page 13208]] (c) The Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of FHFA shall, within their respective authorities, take appropriate action to reform and, where appropriate, eliminate unduly burdensome or costly energy-efficiency, water-use, or alternative- energy requirements regarding housing, including manufactured housing, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with applicable law. Such action shall include reviewing and revising, as needed: (i) the Energy Conservation Program's Energy Conservation Standards for Manufactured Housing; (ii) the Adoption of Energy Efficiency Standards for New Construction of HUD- and USDA-Financed Housing; (iii) residential building energy codes subject to review by the Secretary of Energy; and (iv) water and energy efficiency improvement standards for FHFA's duty to serve underserved market properties. Sec. 3. Streamlining Federal Permitting Requirements for Residential Development. (a) The Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality shall provide guidance to executive departments and agencies (agencies) on implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, including through the establishment, adoption, or application of categorical exclusions, in a manner that maximally exempts or reduces burdens on housing construction, preservation, adaptive re-use, and infrastructure that facilitates housing construction, such as roads, water, sewer, and other projects. (b) The Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation shall develop guidance on maximally exempting, or reducing burdens on, housing construction and infrastructure that facilitates housing construction, such as roads, water, sewer, and other projects under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act so that reporting requirements are no more burdensome than necessary. Sec. 4. Boosting Housing Affordability Through State and Local Regulatory Best Practices. (a) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall develop and promulgate a series of regulatory best practices for State and local governments to promote housing construction and affordability, including: (i) streamlining permitting processes for housing developments by, for example, capping permitting timelines and fees; allowing by-right development for single-family homes; limiting retroactive application of new or changed building codes; allowing third-party inspections and appropriate builder choice on certified entities for inspections and studies; and ensuring swift dispute resolution with government agencies and private parties regarding construction matters; (ii) curtailing mandates that increase housing construction costs, such as green-energy building requirements or other energy-choice restrictions, non-evidence-based building codes, and unreasonable building-code-adoption timelines; (iii) re-examining restrictions on the use of manufactured or modular housing on the basis of the construction method rather than objective standards for building and safety, aesthetic requirements, or prohibitions on construction when comparable site-built housing is permitted; and (iv) removing arbitrary limitations on residential housing development beyond urban centers, such as urban growth boundaries, growth moratoria, and commuting penalties. (b) The Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall, within their respective authorities, take steps to revise, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, [[Page 13209]] regulations, guidance, grant applications and requirements, technical assistance, and other relevant agency documents or practices to advance the best practices issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. Sec. 5. Facilitating New Residential Construction in Opportunity Zones. (a) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall jointly evaluate Administration actions to better align programs and incentives with the Opportunity Zone tax incentives to expand investment in single-family home construction, including considering lawful mechanisms to link grants, financing tools, or other incentives with new or increased investment in Qualified Opportunity Funds engaged in the development and sale of single-family homes. (b) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall also assess opportunities to coordinate the Opportunity Zone incentives described in subsection (a) of this section with the New Markets Tax Credit under 26 U.S.C. 45D to promote single-family home construction in census tracts that qualify both as Qualified Opportunity Zones and as low-income communities for the purposes of the New Markets Tax Credit. Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. [[Page 13210]] (e) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, March 13, 2026. [FR Doc. 2026-05388 Filed 3-17-26; 11:15 am] Billing code 4210-67-P