I'd have to take a look at what specific regs we're talking about getting rid of, but I do generally agree that housing is way over-regulated, especially in certain places. It certainly is in the SF bay area.
When we pruchased our home 10 years ago, there was a prefab storage unit in our fenced off backyard. You could barely see the roof of it peaking out over the fence. It had been there for 20 years, said the previous owner. So of course we used it.
Until a neighbor decided he wanted a storage unit just like ours. Except he went to the bulding department and asked what was OK and what was not. When they said a storage unit of that exact size was "10% over the size limit for a backyard storage unit," this asshole said "but but, our neighbors at _______ have one just like that and it's been up for decades!"
Within days, an inspector shows up at our house and tells us we have to tear it down.
For what, what public need was even served by this?
I think some people want to establish a utopia accessible to only those who can afford it, and the rest of us be damned.