DC YIMBYs

Our Mission

DC YIMBYs (Yes In My Back Yard) is committed to making housing in Washington DC accessible and affordable for all by advocating for diverse housing options and increased density. We believe that flourishing communities with a wide range of housing choices foster social cohesion, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability.

We are a growing volunteer collective of over 1,000 dedicated pro-housing advocates in DC with members based in every Ward across the city. DC YIMBYs is made up of both renters and homeowners, new residents and native Washingtonians, and our members include ANC commissioners, tenants’ rights advocates, national housing policy researchers, and local affordable housing developers.

Our Goals

• Legalize apartments and missing middle: The majority of DC is zoned exclusively for single-family homes. The city's wealthiest neighborhoods, particularly in Ward 3, were historically zoned in this way to exclude Black and low-income residents. We need to legalize apartments and missing middle housing for more inclusive affordable neighborhoods.
• End the Height Act: In 1910, Congress passed The Height of Buildings Act, which limits development in the city and makes it difficult for DC to accommodate its growing population. We should not have to live by this century-old federal mandate.
• Reduce carbon emissions: The climate crisis is an emergency and the most effective way to reduce carbon emissions is to build infill housing in urban environments. We support dense new developments and the elimination of mandatory minimum parking requirements, especially near major transit hubs.
• Make more housing available to low-income renters: The waitlist for public housing and Section 8 vouchers in DC is over ten years long. Even when recipients finally do receive a voucher, they often struggle to find a place to live because there is not enough housing available. We support increasing the DC Housing Production Trust Fund, in addition to increasing the total housing stock. You shouldn’t have to wait ten years to find a place to live.

We Say, “Yes in My Back Yard!”

Our goal is to make Washington DC a place where everyone can build a life, regardless of their background or income. We recognize the need for diverse housing types, such as row homes, apartments, and ADUs, to accommodate different needs and preferences. The housing affordability crisis in Washington DC threatens our city's unique diversity and rich cultural heritage. Together, we can build a more inclusive and affordable capital city for all.