Bill > S03397

This bill enacts the "faith-based affordable housing act" to facilitate residential development on religious-owned land across New York state. The legislation requires all villages, towns, and cities to allow construction of residential buildings on "covered sites" (religious corporation-owned land in urban areas) with specific density and height allowances. In municipalities with fewer than one million inhabitants, residential buildings can be constructed up to ten feet above the maximum existing height, with up to thirty residential units per acre. Buildings must set aside at least 20% of residential floor area for households earning an average of 80% of the area median income. The bill streamlines the permit process by mandating ministerial approval within 60 days, limiting local government's ability to impose additional restrictions, and prohibiting many traditional zoning constraints like parking requirements or unit size regulations. For cities with one million or more inhabitants (essentially New York City), slightly different affordable housing and density requirements apply. The legislation also requires religious corporations to have representatives complete a training course on real estate development before selling or leasing land for housing, and establishes a process for legal challenges if local governments fail to comply with the act's provisions. The bill aims to increase affordable housing development by reducing bureaucratic barriers and providing a standardized framework for construction on religious-owned land.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3397