The bill amends Section 45-24-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-24, titled "Zoning Ordinances," and is set to take effect on January 1, 2024. It introduces a comprehensive list of definitions for terms commonly used in zoning and development, such as "Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)," "Development plan review," and "Family member," among others. These definitions are intended to standardize the language across local zoning ordinances, ensuring consistent application of the law. The bill includes insertions, marked by , which specify the effective date of the new definitions, but does not provide specific deletions, which are marked by . Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of "household" by changing the minimum number of unrelated persons living together from three to "one person per bedroom." This alteration could allow more unrelated individuals to cohabitate as long as there is a bedroom for each person. The bill also includes a variety of other zoning-related definitions, such as "floodplains" and "historic district," but does not indicate changes to these definitions. The Legislative Council's explanation points out that the act regulates occupancy limits in residential zones by stipulating that the number of unrelated persons in a household cannot be less than one person per bedroom, and the act will be effective immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7272: 45-24-31