The bill amends Section 45-24-33 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-24, which is titled "Zoning Ordinances." The amendment introduces a new provision that excludes any portion of a basement, as defined in § 45-24.3-5, from the calculation of floor area ratio (FAR) in zoning ordinances. This change is indicated by the insertion of new legal language and the deletion of existing language. Specifically, the bill states that zoning ordinances must exclude basement areas from the FAR calculation, which is a measure typically used to determine the allowable size of a building relative to the size of the lot on which it is built.

The bill also reaffirms that zoning ordinances should address a variety of general provisions, such as land and structure development, use of land for different purposes, performance standards related to environmental quality, and requirements for public services. It outlines numerous other aspects that zoning ordinances may regulate, including building dimensions, density of use, open space, transportation systems, and development in special areas like flood plains or historic zones. The bill emphasizes that the slope of land should not be excluded from the calculation of buildable lot area or minimum lot size. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7324  SUB A: 45-24-33
7324: 45-24-33