The Accessory Dwelling Units Bill establishes uniform standards for homeowners to develop one ADU by right in accordance with building code, size limits, and infrastructure requirements, and prohibits the short-term rental of ADUs. This bill is currently in effect
To see the full bill, click here H7062A
Podcast Time Stamps: 3:37-9:39
To ensure consistent application of CRMC and DEM regulations on projects for development, redevelopment, construction or rehabilitation, this bill prohibits municipalities from applying local zoning ordinances pertaining to wetland buffers and setbacks differently than the state requirements. This bill is currently in effect.
To see the full bill, click here H7982
Podcast Time Stamps: 11:45-14:40
Clarifying how municipalities can restrict hearing of applications and issuing of building permits for housing units, this bill ensures that moratoriums on land use applications are related to legitimate government interests and are not in place for longer than 120 days. This bill is currently in effect.
To see the full bill, click here H7951A
Podcast Time Stamps: 14:47 – 17:08
For municipalities opting to use inclusionary zoning for the development of affordable housing, this bill reduces the required percentage of affordable units from 25% to 15% of the total project units. This bill will go into effect on January 1st, 2025.
To see the full bill, click here H7948A
Podcast Time Stamps: 27:48 – 33:09
To allow greater use of manufactured homes, this bill enables towns to allow manufactured homes constructed in accordance with HUD Regulations as an alternative option to stick-built homes where single- family housing is allowed. This bill is currently in effect.
To see the full bill, click here H7980Aaa
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To help municipalities better account for their affordable housing stock, this bill establishes conditions and credits to qualify permanent mobile and manufactured homes as affordable housing units that count for municipal requirements. This bill is currently in effect
To see the full bill, click here: (link to full bill) H7984aa
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This bill elevates the role and duties of the state building code commissioner to ensure uniform interpretation and enforcement of the building code statewide, and establish a dedicated funding stream for contractor training grants for programs that include minority business enterprises and state and local building officials. This bill will go into effect on January 1, 2025.
To see the full bill, click here H7983B
Podcast Time Stamps: 1:38-3:19
Amending various provisions relative to subdivision of land review, review stages, special provisions related to development and the procedures for approvals from various permitting authorities, this bill clarifies the optional use of development plan review, requires unified development review when an application requires both planning and zoning relief, and clarifies setback standards for substandard lots of record. This bill is currently in effect.
To see the full bill, click here H7949Aaa
Podcast Time Stamps: 21:23 – 25:39
Already successful in making plan review, inspections, and obtaining building permits more streamlined, transparent, responsive and cost effective, this bill requires, by October 1, 2025, all municipalities to adopt electronic permitting for local planning and zoning processes to further reduce red tape and make the development process more efficient. This bill is currently in effect.
To see the full bill, click here: (link to full bill) H7978A
Podcast Time Stamps: 9:47 – 11:40
To enable developers to choose their preferred method, this bill requires municipalities to allow at least three forms of financial security (e.g., surety bonds, letter of credit, cash) and caps maintenance guarantees at ten percent of either the original guarantee amount or the cost of the project if no guarantee was required. This bill will go into effect on January 1st, 2025
To see the full bill, click here H7950A
Podcast Time Stamps: 9:47 – 11:40
Prioritizing the development of affordable housing on abandoned properties, this bill requires annual updating of municipal inventory of abandoned properties, and clarifies abatement protocols, and enables judges to prioritize sale of nuisance properties in receivership to parties seeking to develop affordable housing. This bill is currently in effect.
To see the full bill, click here H7986Aaa
Podcast Time Stamps: 35:06 – 36:57
To organize a comprehensive and integrated statewide Geographic Information System (GIS), this bill requires the Department of Administration to report by January 31, 2025, on the feasibility, structure, cost, staff, organizational changes, and data security requirements to establish and maintain such a system. This bill is currently in effect.
To see the full bill, click here: (link to full bill) H7985A
Podcast Time Stamps: 36:59-38:31
To ease quorum issues and otherwise expedite processes, this bill updates the membership of planning and zoning boards, and enables municipalities to combine zoning and planning boards together as a single board through adoption of a local ordinance. This bill will take effect January 1st, 2025.
To see the full bill, click here H7979
Podcast Time Stamps: 17:49 – 19:29
