Signed by Governor Ned Lamont

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends zoning regulations to address long-standing housing inequities.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the zoning commission of each city, town or borough to regulate, within the limits of such municipality (Sec. 1.a-1):

• The height, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures;

• The percentage of the area of the lot that may be occupied; 

• The size of yards, courts and other open spaces; 

• The density of population and the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes, including water-dependent uses; and

• The height, size, location, brightness and illumination of advertising signs and billboards.

• Prohibits adopting the following zoning regulations (Sec. 1.d):

• Banning the operation of any family child care home or group child care home in a residential zone;

• Banning the use of receptacles for the storage of items designated for recycling or require that such receptacles comply with provisions for bulk or lot area, or similar provisions, except provisions for side yards, rear yards and front yards;

• Imposing conditions and requirements on manufactured homes, including mobile manufactured homes;

• Banning the continuance of any nonconforming use, building or structure existing at the time of the adoption of such regulations;

• Banning the installation of temporary health care structures for use by mentally or physically impaired persons.

• Authorizes any city, town or borough which adopts the provisions of this law to, by vote of its legislative body, exempt municipal property from the regulations prescribed by the zoning commission of such city, town or borough, but unless it is so voted, municipal property to be subject to such regulations (Sec. 1-5.e).

• Requires each municipality to prepare or amend and adopt an affordable housing plan for the municipality and to submit a copy of  such plan to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, who will post the plan on the Internet web site of said office (Sec. 2.a-1).

• Specifies if, at the same time the municipality is required to submit to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management an affordable housing plan, the municipality is also required to submit to the secretary a plan of conservation and development, such affordable housing plan may be included as part of such a plan of conservation and development (Sec. 2-2).

• Authorizes a municipality to adopt geographical, functional or other amendments to the plan or parts of the plan, in accordance with the provisions of this law, as it deems necessary (Sec. 2.c).

• Requires the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, to convene and chair a working group to develop and recommend to the secretary guidelines and incentives for compliance with the requirements for affordable housing plans (Sec. 3.a-1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends zoning regulations to address long-standing housing inequities.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the zoning commission of each city, town or borough to regulate, within the limits of such municipality (Sec. 1.a-1):

• The height, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures;

• The percentage of the area of the lot that may be occupied; 

• The size of yards, courts and other open spaces; 

• The density of population and the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes, including water-dependent uses; and

• The height, size, location, brightness and illumination of advertising signs and billboards.

• Prohibits adopting the following zoning regulations (Sec. 1.d):

• Banning the operation of any family child care home or group child care home in a residential zone;

• Banning the use of receptacles for the storage of items designated for recycling or require that such receptacles comply with provisions for bulk or lot area, or similar provisions, except provisions for side yards, rear yards and front yards;

• Imposing conditions and requirements on manufactured homes, including mobile manufactured homes;

• Banning the continuance of any nonconforming use, building or structure existing at the time of the adoption of such regulations;

• Banning the installation of temporary health care structures for use by mentally or physically impaired persons.

• Authorizes any city, town or borough which adopts the provisions of this law to, by vote of its legislative body, exempt municipal property from the regulations prescribed by the zoning commission of such city, town or borough, but unless it is so voted, municipal property to be subject to such regulations (Sec. 1-5.e).

• Requires each municipality to prepare or amend and adopt an affordable housing plan for the municipality and to submit a copy of  such plan to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, who will post the plan on the Internet web site of said office (Sec. 2.a-1).

• Specifies if, at the same time the municipality is required to submit to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management an affordable housing plan, the municipality is also required to submit to the secretary a plan of conservation and development, such affordable housing plan may be included as part of such a plan of conservation and development (Sec. 2-2).

• Authorizes a municipality to adopt geographical, functional or other amendments to the plan or parts of the plan, in accordance with the provisions of this law, as it deems necessary (Sec. 2.c).

• Requires the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, to convene and chair a working group to develop and recommend to the secretary guidelines and incentives for compliance with the requirements for affordable housing plans (Sec. 3.a-1).

Full Bill Text