This bill proposes an exemption for municipalities with a population density of fewer than 250 residents per square mile from the requirement to allow multi-family residential development on commercially zoned land. The exemption applies regardless of federal designations of the area as rural or urban, as well as any overlapping classifications that may exist. The new legal language inserted into the current law specifies that this exemption is applicable to municipalities based on the latest population data from the United States Census Bureau.

The bill amends RSA 674:80 by adding a new paragraph that clearly defines the criteria for the exemption, ensuring that small or low-density communities are not mandated to permit multi-family housing developments. The act is set to take effect immediately upon its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 674:80
HB1349 text: 674:80