House Bill No. 7061, titled "An Act Concerning Mandatory Minimum Parking Requirements," proposes significant revisions to Connecticut's zoning regulations by repealing subsections (c) and (d) of section 8-2 of the general statutes. The bill eliminates the previous restrictions that limited municipalities to requiring only one parking space for studio or one-bedroom units and two for larger units. Instead, it introduces a new framework that allows municipalities to establish a minimum number of off-street motor vehicle parking spaces for any development, thereby granting local authorities greater flexibility to tailor parking requirements to their specific needs.

In addition to the changes regarding parking requirements, the bill amends section 8-2o to ensure that at least one accessory apartment is permitted as of right on each lot with a single-family dwelling, with provisions for both attached and detached configurations. The bill also repeals a provision that allowed planning and zoning bodies to adopt regulations permitting developers to pay fees in lieu of providing required parking spaces. These changes aim to promote efficient land use and development while addressing community housing and infrastructure needs, with an effective date set for October 1, 2025. However, the elimination of minimum parking requirements may lead to potential revenue losses for municipalities that previously collected fees from developers opting out of providing parking spaces.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 8-2o
PD Joint Favorable: 8-2o
File No. 596: 8-2o