This bill amends Chapter 45-24 of the General Laws, which pertains to zoning ordinances. It introduces new purposes for zoning ordinances, including the respect for the right of housing for every Rhode Islander regardless of income, promotion of smart growth, and preservation of undeveloped land. The bill prohibits the adoption of new zoning ordinance requirements related to wetland buffers or setbacks, but allows existing ordinances on these matters to be submitted for approval. It also requires cities and towns to align their ordinances with new state regulations within twelve months, and includes new definitions for terms such as "Abutter," "Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)," and "Architectural form," among others. The bill renumbers subsequent definitions to accommodate these new insertions and provides a detailed definition of "Community residence."

The bill further refines zoning and development regulations, expanding the definition of "Development" to include "facade redesign" and emphasizing the aesthetic aspect of zoning districts by expanding the term "zoning-use and form district" to include "form." It clarifies the term "Mixed use" and introduces a new definition for "Infrastructure." The bill also amends the definition of nonconformance in zoning ordinances, distinguishing between nonconformance by use and by dimension, and establishes conditions under which nonconforming uses are considered abandoned. It revises provisions related to special-use permits, now termed special permits, and introduces special dimensional permits. The bill mandates that zoning ordinances requiring affordable housing ensure a minimum of 10% affordable units for at least 30 years and outlines provisions for the transfer of development rights in certain towns. Lastly, it introduces a unified development review process and requires that all open space land in development projects be subject to a community-approved management plan, while also outlining the powers and duties of the zoning board of review, effective January 1, 2023.