Legislative Changes for Housing in Rhode Island
The latest legislative session closed with the passing of ten (10) bills that were part of the Speakers housing package, five of which were and advanced by Neighbors Welcome and others with the goal of making it easier to build the housing we need in a smart, thoughtful way. We at Grow Smart RI are proud to have provided support towards three of these bills including those relating to mixed-use zones, e-permitting expansion and building code reform. Read below for the details of the bills passed, and what problems each bill aims to address in our RI communities.
Mixed-Use Zones
Many cities and towns have underused commercial land served by public infrastructure. Aging strip malls and vacant commercial lots provide an opportunity to build new homes and mixed-use neighborhoods while preserving the state’s farmlands and forests.
Legislation approved to create new, mixed-use overlays in commercial zones that cities and towns identify as appropriate, ensuring new homes are not built near heavy industry or other environmental nuisances.
E-permitting Expansion
Building new homes is an overly slow and costly process. Rhode Island has made significant progress in reducing delays by creating a new online permitting system, but many state and local permits remain to be added to the platform.
Legislation approved to empower the Department of Business Regulation to continue expanding e-permitting, speeding up new home construction and creating cost-savings that can be passed on to residents.
Oversized Lot Splits
Oversized lots are common in many communities, but the extra land often cannot be used for homebuilding because inflated lot size requirements were put in place after the parcels were originally created.
Legislation approved to allow double lots to be subdivided for new homes as long as the newly created lots resemble nearby parcels, maintaining neighborhood character. For example, a 10,000 square foot lot surrounded by 5,000 square foot lots could be divided in two.
Building Code Reform
High construction costs make it financially difficult to build new triple-deckers or other small multifamily buildings in Rhode Island. These costs stem in part from the fact that three- and four-family homes must meet the same commercial building code requirements as high rises, shopping malls, and hospitals.
Legislation approved to reclassify three- and four-families as residential, making these homes more cost-effective to build while maintaining the high safety standards of modern construction.
Townhomes
It should be easier for families to buy a starter home and for seniors to downsize in their community. Townhomes offer a path to homeownership at a more affordable price point and are significantly easier for builders to finance compared to condominiums.
Legislation approved to legalize townhomes in residential zoning districts at reasonable levels of density, depending on the type of community, while allowing cities and towns to retain control over key design characteristics.
Text and graphics courtesy of Neighbors Welcome.