The proposed bill would significantly update current statutes related to home design and development standards for single-family homes by prohibiting municipalities from interfering with a home buyer's right to choose various aspects of home design, including features, amenities, and floor plans. It would also prevent municipalities from requiring shared features that necessitate homeowners' associations and from mandating screening, walls, or fences on residential properties. Additionally, the bill would remove existing provisions that allow municipalities to impose certain restrictions on single-family home development, such as minimum lot sizes greater than 3,000 square feet for new developments over five acres, and would establish new standards for setbacks and lot coverage. Furthermore, the bill would clarify that the new home design and development standards do not supersede existing building codes or public health regulations and would not apply to developments on tribal land or in specific military zones. It would also allow municipalities to enforce minimum lot sizes greater than 3,000 square feet in aggregated existing developments and permit them to require utility plans to ensure safety and reliability. Overall, these changes aim to alleviate housing shortages by reducing regulatory barriers for single-family home construction while maintaining essential safety and health standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-461.19, 9-461.20
Senate Engrossed Version: 9-461.19, 9-461.20