The bill amends Section 45-23-32 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-23, which governs the "Subdivision of Land," by introducing a new definitions section that clarifies terms related to land development and subdivision. It specifically defines "minor subdivisions" to include oversized lot subdivisions, allowing for the creation of residential lots that may not meet minimum size requirements if they are equal to or greater in area than 50% of the residential lots within 200 feet of the proposed subdivision, as confirmed by a registered professional engineer, surveyor, or certified planner. This aims to facilitate the development of substandard lots while ensuring compliance with local regulations.

Additionally, the bill amends Sections 45-24-38 and 45-24-46 in Chapter 45-24, which addresses "Zoning Ordinances," to permit modifications for "neighborhood character-based modifications" (NCBM) in residential areas with water and sewer connections. The zoning enforcement officer is authorized to grant NCBM for dimensional relief from setbacks, height, frontage, lot coverage, lot size, lot width, and lot depth, provided that the resulting lots are not less than 3,000 square feet in size and that the modifications do not violate flood hazard requirements, freshwater or coastal wetlands regulations, or state building and fire codes.

The bill outlines the process for requesting NCBM, including notification requirements for abutting property owners if the modification exceeds 30% of the zoning district requirements. If no objections are received within 14 days, the zoning enforcement officer shall grant the modification. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
5799: 45-23-32
5799  SUB A: 45-23-32