This bill proposes several amendments to existing laws regarding subdivision regulations and the appeals process for building codes and fire codes. Notably, it extends the exemption period for subdivision plats from five years to seven years and increases the preliminary development period from two years to three years. The bill also modifies the jurisdiction of the local building code board of appeals, limiting it to decisions made under local amendments to the state building and fire codes. Additionally, it allows appeals of decisions made by the building code review board regarding the fire marshal and local building code board of appeals to be taken to superior court or the housing appeals board.

Further changes include provisions that prevent the register of deeds from refusing to record a plat due to non-compliance with laws or regulations adopted after the approval of the site plan or plat. The bill also clarifies the appeals process, stating that decisions of the state fire marshal and local building code boards must first be appealed to the building code review board before escalating to superior court or the housing appeals board. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025, with the new seven-year exemption and three-year preliminary period applying to approvals granted on or after July 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 674:39, 674:34, 155-A:11-b, 478:1-a, 679:5, 673:3