Executive Order 14394

Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction

Signed 2026-03-13 in effect
HousingDeregulationConstruction
Energy & EnvironmentEconomy & Finance Deregulation

Reduces federal regulatory barriers to residential construction, including environmental review and zoning-related requirements.

Section by Section

What each section does, and how they differ.

Sec. 1 Purpose

Establishes that housing market requires dynamic inventory of new homes; identifies regulatory barriers, slow permitting, and government mandates as obstacles to affordability; commits to reduce barriers while stewarding taxpayer resources.

Sec. 2 Targeting Federal Regulatory Barriers to Residential Development

Directs Army Secretary and EPA to review and revise stormwater, wetlands, and water body requirements; directs Commerce, HUD, Transportation, and FHFA to eliminate burdensome rules affecting residential development.

Sec. 3 Streamlining Federal Permitting Requirements for Residential Development

Directs Council on Environmental Quality to provide guidance maximizing exemptions from NEPA for housing; directs Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to reduce section 106 review burdens for housing projects.

Sec. 4 Boosting Housing Affordability Through State and Local Regulatory Best Practices

Within 60 days, directs HUD to develop best practices for state and local governments to streamline permitting, curtail mandates, and remove development limitations.

Sec. 5 Facilitating New Residential Construction in Opportunity Zones

Directs Treasury and HUD to evaluate aligning programs with Opportunity Zone tax incentives for single-family home investment.

Sec. 6 General Provisions

Standard boilerplate: preserves existing agency authority, conditions the order on appropriations, and creates no enforceable private rights; includes severability clause.