Legislation is part of Speaker Shekarchi’s 2025 12-bill housing package
The legislation is part of House Speaker K. Joseph
Shekarchi’s (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) 12-bill package of legislation regarding
housing issues, his fifth comprehensive suite of housing bills since
becoming Speaker in 2021.
“The specific zoning status of a parcel can be complex and difficult to understand for property owners and prospective buyers,” said Representative Spears (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly).
“That’s why it’s so important that the zoning opinions issued
locally are reliable enough for owners and buyers to make informed decisions
about their development plans for their properties. This bill ensures that they
will be, removing an unneeded area of ambiguity in our state zoning law.”
The bill (2025-H 5795) would allow purchasers to reasonably rely on
zoning opinions issued by local officials. Presently, when a current or
prospective property owner obtains a zoning certificate, the certificate is for
instructive purposes only and not binding; this amendment would remove the
non-binding nature of zoning certificates to allow property owners to rely on
the municipal determination of the legality of the present use.
The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
