The bill amends Section 45-24-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-24, which pertains to "Zoning Ordinances," and is set to take effect on January 1, 2024. It updates and clarifies definitions for a wide array of zoning-related terms, such as "Abutter," "Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)," "Building height," and introduces the concept of a "Floating zone," among others. The bill specifies the method for measuring building height, especially in flood hazard areas, and allows for certain exclusions from height calculations based on FEMA and CRMC maps. It also includes insertions that refine the definitions to ensure consistency in local ordinances, but no deletions are mentioned.

Furthermore, the bill proposes a change to the definition of "household," allowing a minimum of one person per bedroom and setting a maximum of five unrelated persons per dwelling unit, with an exemption for NARR-certified recovery residences. It maintains technical definitions for terms like "floodplains," "freeboard," and "overlay district," which are essential for the enforcement of zoning laws. The bill distinguishes between two types of variances: use and dimensional, and outlines their respective standards. The act is intended to be effective immediately upon passage, and while it does not indicate specific insertions or deletions, it appears to introduce new language or clarify existing statutes without modifying the current legal text.

Statutes affected:
2635  SUB A: 45-24-31
2635: 45-24-31