Bill > HB1588

This bill allows local governments to regulate parking spaces for vehicles associated with new developments, with the key restriction that they cannot mandate that each parking space must be enclosed in a garage. Additionally, for multi-family housing (buildings with multiple separate housing units) that already exists or is planned within commercial districts as of July 1, 2026, municipalities are prevented from imposing new or stricter requirements beyond what is already permitted, except for specific rules regarding the building's frontage, setbacks (the distance a building must be from property lines), and height, provided these rules are the same as those for commercial development. The bill also clarifies that existing structures in commercial zones that don't fully meet current zoning rules can be converted into multi-family housing without altering their exterior in a way that would further violate zoning regulations, and it includes a provision that allows property owners to recover attorney's fees if they have to sue a municipality for improperly denying multi-family housing applications or imposing excessive requirements.