Bill > A03647

This bill enacts the "Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act," which aims to facilitate residential development on religious land across New York State. The bill requires all villages, towns, and cities to allow the construction of residential buildings on "covered sites" (land owned by religious corporations in urban areas) with specific density and height allowances. For municipalities with fewer than one million inhabitants, residential buildings can be constructed up to ten feet higher than previous zoning limits and with up to 30 residential units per acre. Buildings near mass transit stations can have up to 250 units. In cities with one million or more inhabitants (i.e., New York City), different height and density provisions apply. Critically, all residential buildings must set aside a percentage of floor area for affordable housing, ranging from 20-30% depending on the location and income levels targeted. The bill mandates that affordable units be physically integrated into the development, indistinguishable from market-rate units, and subject to long-term affordability restrictions. Local governments are prohibited from imposing additional zoning restrictions beyond state building and fire codes, and the bill establishes a streamlined, ministerial approval process for building permits. The legislation also requires training for religious corporation officials involved in land sales and provides a legal mechanism for challenging local government non-compliance.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3647