Bill > H7981

This bill amends the provisions of Rhode Island's zoning laws to make the following key changes: 1. It requires municipalities to establish by May 15, 2025 a "residential exclusion health and safety overlay zone" in any commercial or industrial zoning districts where residential use is to be prohibited for public health and safety reasons, and to provide specific findings justifying such prohibition. 2. It requires municipalities to permit duplexes and multifamily development by-right, and to provide a copy of their zoning ordinance and map amendments to the state legislature, housing commission, and planning division. 3. It allows for adaptive reuse of certain commercial buildings, including mills, into residential or mixed-use developments, with reduced parking requirements and provisions for high-density residential development if certain criteria are met. Municipalities must report annually on the number of dwelling units produced under these adaptive reuse provisions. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2024.

Housing and Urban Affairs

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