The bill amends Section 45-24-33 of the General Laws regarding zoning ordinances, introducing new requirements for municipalities to include provisions for residential development within commercial districts. Specifically, it mandates that zoning ordinances must address the following:

1. Standards to ensure that residential uses are allowed and integrated with commercial uses in a mixed-use or village development.
2. Provisions that allow residential units above commercial uses on the ground floor or first floor of structures.
3. Provisions to permit medium to high-density residential development in commercial zones allowing residential use.
4. Flexible and reasonable dimensional standards that promote and allow for mixed-use or village development.
5. Municipalities with a population exceeding 40,000 are required to provide for residential development in at least 30% of the area in commercial zoning use districts.

The bill also retains existing provisions related to various zoning regulations, such as land use, building standards, and environmental protections. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
5800: 45-24-33
5800  SUB A: 45-24-33