The bill amends Section 45-23-44 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-23, which governs land subdivision, by introducing new physical design requirements for subdivisions and land-development projects. It mandates that local regulations must be modified to meet the purposes of Section 45-24-78 concerning attached single-family dwellings, including updated standards for minimum lot size, lot width, lot frontage, lot depth, setbacks, and street access. A new subsection (g) is added, allowing flexibility in lot access for certain developments, stating that individual lots in a land development project consisting of attached single-family dwellings shall not be required to provide permanent physical access to a public street, provided that the development as a whole offers adequate access consistent with local regulations.

Furthermore, the bill amends Sections 45-24-31 and 45-24-37 in Chapter 45-24, which pertains to zoning ordinances, by defining the term "attached single-family dwelling" as a dwelling unit located within a residential structure containing two or more units arranged side-by-side and attached by a party wall at the lot line, with each unit situated on a separate lot. The legislation mandates that cities and towns permit attached single-family dwellings in all residential zoning districts, allowing each dwelling to have its own parcel through subdivision regardless of existing base zone standards. Local zoning ordinances must be updated to reflect model ordinance language from the Department of Housing within six months, and if municipalities do not comply, the model terms will still apply. The bill also stipulates that these dwellings must have access to public sewer and water services or adequate private systems, while ensuring that residential density aligns with local comprehensive plans.

Statutes affected:
504: 45-23-44