Why can urban sprawl occur even when a metropolitan area's population is declining?

Urban sprawl can occur in metropolitan areas with declining populations primarily because it is driven by factors beyond simple population growth, such as lifestyle choices and economic trends.12

Even when the number of residents decreases, the geographic footprint of a city often expands due to a widespread desire for increased living space and residential amenities, such as larger homes, private yards, and more storage. As individuals seek these features, they often move to suburban areas where land is relatively inexpensive, further increasing the spatial extent of the metropolitan region.12

Additionally, several structural and economic factors facilitate this expansion:

• Economic and Macroeconomic Drivers: Economic growth and globalization encourage the construction of new housing tracts and infrastructure at the urban fringe.1
• Planning and Zoning: Weak planning laws and single-use zoning often mandate the separation of residential, commercial, and industrial areas, which discourages compact, walkable development and necessitates reliance on automobiles.12
• Infrastructure Development: The availability of roads and utilities in previously inaccessible areas allows for continued low-density development, regardless of total population trends.12