What is YIGBY?

Kentucky House Bill 333 (HB 333), also known as YIGBY (Yes In God's Backyard), is a zoning reform law that streamlines the development of affordable housing and homeless shelters on property owned by religious institutions.

The law aims to cut red tape associated with local planning and zoning regulations for qualified properties to address Kentucky's statewide housing shortage.

Key Provisions of HB 333

• Ministerial Review: Qualifying projects bypass lengthy local rezoning hearings. Instead, they are classified as a "permitted use" subject to a straightforward, checklist-style ministerial review to ensure they meet basic building codes.
• Affordability Cap: Housing units built under this law must be reserved for households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI).
• Long-Term Affordability: The units must remain designated as affordable housing for at least 15 years, enforced via a legally binding recorded deed restriction.
• Project Size Limit: To maintain local neighborhood standards, developments are capped at 24 or fewer housing units.
• Land Restrictions: The property must have been owned by the religious organization prior to January 1, 2026, and must be located in a commercial zone or along a primary road in a residential zone.
• Shelter Operations: The law explicitly allows churches to operate small-scale homeless shelters, warming centers, and cooling centers on their properties without needing special zoning exceptions.

Additional Resources