The bill amends Section 45-53-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-53, titled "Low and Moderate Income Housing," to establish a procedure for the approval of low- or moderate-income housing construction. Effective January 1, 2026, this procedure is available for proposals in which at least twenty-five percent of the housing units are designated as low- or moderate-income. However, this procedure is not available in cities and towns that have low- or moderate-income housing in excess of ten percent of their year-round housing units, but do have an inclusionary zoning ordinance that complies with 45-24-46.1 and requires that all housing developments include at least fifty percent low- or moderate-income housing units.

The bill also specifies that contractors must submit a single application to the local review board for a comprehensive permit to build low- or moderate-income housing in municipalities with inclusionary zoning ordinances. It mandates that all housing developments in these areas include at least fifty percent low- or moderate-income housing units. The bill outlines requirements for the approval process, including ensuring adequate access to public streets and assessing potential negative impacts on community health and safety. It also requires obtaining necessary state and federal permits before final approval, establishes a two-year vesting period for approved plans, and mandates that all written decisions on applications be recorded in land evidence records within a specified timeframe.

Statutes affected:
7659: 45-53-4