Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) is a land use technique for developing diverse mixed-income communities by requiring each new residential development make a percentage of the new units affordable to targeted incomes. It often lets developers build more units through a “density bonus” along with other incentives to help the program operate better. IZ is used in cities across the country and states have made it part of their law. Montgomery County, MD was the first to implement IZ back in the 1970s. Since then, IZ helped create over 11,000 units of affordable housing in the county.