Are zoning restrictions for houses detrimental to the well-being of poor people?

Zoning essentially controls where houses can be located. There are different restrictions included in zoning, for example, the amount of square meters of a house and a minimum of lot size, as well as restrictions on how many people can occupy a lot. 

I am of the opinion that zoning is disadvantageous to the well-being of poor people because zoning restrictions require certain standards which are mostly very cost-intensive. To give an illustration of what I mean, let us have a look at particular safety restrictions, such as minimums for the emergency vehicle access. If the poor live in areas with zoning restrictions of that kind they will have to observe these special norms for the emergency access and have to pay for the realization of them on their lot. Another compelling example to clarify the problem is the minimum of lot size as mentioned above. Poor people cannot spend much money on a large lot because they only have a limited budget.

 The general fact that poor people are disadvantaged in this particular case has an impact on the development of prestige suburbs. As a consequence, the poor population is going to be excluded more and more by the wealthier people in society. 

Nancy Paap (Posted by Aaron)