In most of the US it's pretty easy to entitle the construction of a new dwelling. The difficulty tends to be proportional to demand - i.e. regulatory requirements reflect market forces as the result of political action by the citizens of a representative democracy.
In practice building with steel and elevators is more expensive than using traditional American methods involving stick framing and low rise construction. The more expensive methods only make sense when demand is high enough to justify the additional costs.
A primary constraint on development density in the US is parking. By the time resources are committed to accommodating residents' vehicles, only higher housing prices associated with 'luxury' class housing make development of a site with dense housing feasible. Again, it's a market dealing with the parking regulations. Parking regulations reflect the body politic's interest in protecting the commons that is our roadways.
There's cheap housing in Detroit. There isn't in Mountain View. That's just the nature of markets.
In practice building with steel and elevators is more expensive than using traditional American methods involving stick framing and low rise construction. The more expensive methods only make sense when demand is high enough to justify the additional costs.
A primary constraint on development density in the US is parking. By the time resources are committed to accommodating residents' vehicles, only higher housing prices associated with 'luxury' class housing make development of a site with dense housing feasible. Again, it's a market dealing with the parking regulations. Parking regulations reflect the body politic's interest in protecting the commons that is our roadways.
There's cheap housing in Detroit. There isn't in Mountain View. That's just the nature of markets.