Tematyka niniejszego artykułu dotyczy polityki przestrzennej realizowanej w małych miastach województwa łódzkiego po 1990 r. (w okresie transformacji ustrojowo-gospodarczej) oraz jej wpływu na rozwój budownictwa mieszkaniowego w granicach tych ośrodków, z uwzględnieniem przestrzennych konsekwencji rozwoju zabudowy w warunkach niedostatecznego wykorzystania instrumentów planistycznych. Housing is a sector of the national economy that meets the basic needs of the population. However, especially in the period after World War II, noticeable changes of its types, structures and location have been observable in polish towns and cities. When the system of centrally planned economy (1945−1989) has been transformed to a market economy, with the housing shortage still persisting after 1990, both state policy and local policy should seek to develop housing sector, because it encourages the development of other investments and their proper spatial distribution. The basis of its development in urban areas can be reasonable spatial policy, aiming to separate compact areas for construction, with a technical supply and a clear legal status. The issue of this article includes the spatial policy pursued after 1990 (particularly in the years 1990−2005) in the areas of small towns in the Łódź region, as well as its impact on spatial development of housing in these areas, which results from the author's belief that spatial policy currently carried out in Poland encourages settlement dispersion process, and thus inefficient management of space, which is a finite resource. Small towns also grow extensively within their borders, making communication or the provision of infrastructure difficult, and facilitates further uncontrolled urbanization. The scope of the article includes towns inhabited by less than 10 thousand people − demonstrating a significant economic and social similarities. Thus, the research area includes 19 towns, 9 of which has from 5 to 10 thous. inhabitants (Wieruszów, Działoszyn, Pajęczno, Kamieńsk, Sulejów, Zelów, Tuszyn, Poddębice, Żychlin), and 10 others less than 5 000 (Przedbórz, Drzewica, Złoczew, Błaszki, Warta, Szadek, Uniejów, Stryków, Krośniewice, Biała Rawska). Defined in this way, small towns represent over 70% of urban areas in Poland, as well as 45% in the Łódź region.