Plano | May 2026

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Share of Plano homeowners and renters that are cost burdened (2023)

Diving deeper

What’s next

Not cost burdened: 73.55% Cost burdened: 14.34%

Lawmakers cited a need for more housing across the state when passing SB 840. Demand for housing in Plano is expected to outpace supply by 2,228 units by 2027, according to the city’s most recent housing needs study, completed last June. “SB 840 will oer a lot of development oppor- tunities,” local developer William Cravens said. “It would open up many vacant and unusable properties to viable commercial development.” According to the study, Plano is also short on aordable housing. As of 2023, 9,337 Plano households qualied as “extremely low income”—making 30% or less of the city’s median annual income. The data estimates that demand for aordable housing outpaced supply by 5,361 units. As a result, more than 67% of extremely low income households are cost burdened or severely cost burdened, meaning they spend more than half of their monthly income on housing costs.

Day said none of the planned SB 840 developments will be aordable housing. A city spokesperson also conrmed that the city did not receive any applications for its housing tax credit program this year, which uses state funds to oset construction costs for aordable housing developments. Plano adopted several ordinances in order to retain “a little bit of control” over SB 840 developments, Day said. Updates to the city’s development policy include height limits, minimum unit sizes, allowing townhomes in all zones where multifamily is now allowed and prohibiting residential balconies facing expressways. Plano residents will also see signs at all SB 840 developments denoting that they are “allowed due to state law, not city jurisdiction.”

Severely cost burdened: 10.55% Cost burden not provided: 1.56%

Severely cost burdened Not burdened Cost burdened Annual household income

$87,701+

94%

$70,151-$87,700

71%

24%

$43,851-$70,150

54%

31%

15%

$26,301-$43,850

28%

32%

40%

$0-$26,300

33%

8% 59%

SOURCE: RKG ASSOCIATESCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Formerly Napoli’s • New Ownership Italian Goodness ENJOY AUTHENTIC IN EVERY DISH

Unmatched Academic Results Come tour a campus and see for yourself! Challenger School offers uniquely fun and academic programs for preschool to eighth-grade students. Our students learn to think for

themselves and to value independence. Independence (PS–G4) (469) 642-2000 10145 Independence Parkway, Plano Legacy (PS–K) (469) 573-0077 6700 Communications Parkway, Plano

Take-Out Orders: 469-640-5655 | nikisitalian.com 2865 McDermott at Independence in Plano No Corners Cut. High Quality. Low Prices. FREE TIRAMISU with Minimum $20 per person meal. Dine-in only.

Scan to schedule a tour.

PLANO EDITION