This bill amends several sections of the General Laws related to zoning ordinances. It provides definitions for terms used in zoning ordinances and includes definitions for terms related to building height, cluster development, and community residences. The bill aims to provide clear and consistent definitions for terms used in zoning ordinances.

The bill also includes new provisions regarding substandard lots of record. It states that any city or town adopting or amending a zoning ordinance must regulate the development of any single substandard lot of record or contiguous lots of record at the effective date of adoption or amendment of the zoning ordinance. It also specifies that a substandard lot of record shall not be required to seek zoning relief based solely on the failure to meet minimum lot size requirements. The bill also allows for the merger of contiguous substandard lots of record in the same ownership to create dimensionally conforming lots or to reduce the extent of dimensional nonconformance, subject to specified standards. Additionally, the bill includes provisions regarding the alteration of nonconforming development and variances.