# Rhode Island H8004: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND LAND USE ACT . Rhode Island H8004, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND LAND USE ACT ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Robert E. Craven, Sr. (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-23 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 406) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8004-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H8004 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND LAND USE ACT . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-27 - Last action: 2026-06-23, Signed by Governor — Chapter 406 - Sponsor: Robert E. Craven, Sr. (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (79 yes, 28 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 22 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Accessory units defined statewide (2026): benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2026, an accessory dwelling unit is a separate home on the same lot as a legal single‑family or multi‑family home. It must have its own full living facilities. The unit can be detached, part of another structure like a garage, or within the main house. - Easier building on small lots: benefit, medium. Towns must set clear rules for building on undersized lots. You do not need special relief just because your lot is short on size, width, frontage, or depth. Lots do not have to be merged if your lot is at least 50% of nearby lots within 200 feet, unless those lots were already merged by a recorded… - Easier building on small older lots: benefit, medium. If your lot is smaller than the zone minimum, setbacks, frontage, and width drop in the same proportion as your lot’s size. Your allowed building coverage also goes up by the inverse proportion. Example: a lot at 40% of the required size gets 40% of the normal setbacks/width and up to 60% more cove… - Faster, clearer local permitting and appeals: benefit, medium. The law sets firm clocks for permits: 15–25 days to certify completeness, 45–65 days for preliminary decisions, and 25 days for final plan review. The clock pauses if staff issue an incompleteness notice and restarts when you resubmit; there is a 10‑day minimum before re‑certification. Minor projec… - More height flexibility in flood zones: benefit, medium. In FEMA flood areas or on the CRMC SDE‑3 map, the law removes from height limits the larger of two numbers: base flood elevation plus up to 5 feet of freeboard, or the CRMC suggested design elevation, each measured over average grade. This lets you build needed elevation without it counting against… - Faster project reviews and approvals: benefit, medium. You must submit a plan and get approval before starting a land project. The town must hold a pre-application meeting within 30 days or you may file for preliminary review. Completeness checks are due in 25 days for master, preliminary, and final plans. Decisions are due in 60 days (master), 90 days… - Clear rules for group homes and co‑living: benefit, low. Local zoning rules do not apply to state‑licensed community residences for six or fewer people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Group homes for people with disabilities and residences for children have clear capacity and licensing limits, and transitional residences are capped at ei… - Faster local planning reviews and decisions: benefit, low. For administrative lot line changes, the town must say if your filing is complete within 15 days. Once complete, the officer has 20 days to approve or deny, or it is approved by default. The officer can grant listed limited design waivers, and you can ask for pre‑application meetings to get guidanc… - Approvals stay valid for two years: benefit, low. An approved preliminary plan and an approved final plan each vest for two years from the date the approval is recorded. Appeals pause the vesting clock and it restarts only when an approval is affirmed. You can ask for a longer extension for good cause, such as active state permit reviews or docume… - Faster court review of housing appeals: benefit, low. Starting January 1, 2024, appeals of local review board decisions go to the county superior court. You must file within 20 days after the decision is recorded and posted. The board must file the full record within 30 days, and appeals are expedited without a jury. The court reviews legal standards… - Safer lots and access checks: benefit, low. Local boards must check health and safety, including traffic, emergency access, sewer, water, runoff, and key natural or historic features. Lots must have permanent legal access to a public street or an approved private road. Boards must avoid creating lots that are not practical to build on; such… - Stricter variance rules and notices: cost, low. Variance filings go right to the zoning board, with copies to planning. Hearings must be noticed at least 14 days in a local paper and by mail, with posting at town offices and online. Applicants pay newspaper and mailing costs and must file a notarized mailing affidavit. Variances need a true land… - Roommates, co-living, and home work rules: mixed, medium. You cannot convert existing homes into co‑living units unless your local zoning allows it or §45‑24‑37 permits it. Towns may cap unrelated roommates, but not below one person per bedroom and not above five; certified recovery homes are exempt from that cap. Remote work, as defined in law, is not tr… - Simpler minor subdivision steps: mixed, medium. For administrative subdivisions, the checks are simple: no new lots, no new nonconformities, and access stays. If denied, you can appeal or refile as a minor subdivision. Written decisions are filed and posted, and approvals expire in 90 days if not recorded. For minor projects’ final plans, you mu… - Affordable permits: timing and fees: mixed, medium. A comprehensive permit expires unless work starts within 12 months and finishes within 60 months, unless a longer plan is approved. Affordable units must be built and occupied before or at the same time as market units. Towns may charge the same fees as similar projects, but you can show fees make… - Minimum densities and local limits: mixed, medium. On sites with public sewer and water, towns must allow at least 5, 9, or 12 homes per acre when 25%, 50%, or 100% of units are affordable. On sites without those services, towns must allow at least 3, 5, or 8 homes per acre if water and wastewater proof is provided. Wetlands, roads, and recorded ea… - Plan alignment and limits on moratoria: mixed, medium. Towns must keep their comprehensive plans consistent with state law and include an implementation program. When a new plan conflicts with zoning, the zoning in place when the plan was adopted controls until amended, unless the plan is more than 12 years out of date. Residential moratoria are allowe… - Rules for affordable housing projects: mixed, medium. Beginning January 1, 2026, projects with at least 25% affordable homes can file one combined application, unless a town already exceeds 10% affordable homes and has a compliant inclusionary law. For units with two bedrooms or fewer, towns cannot require more than one off‑street parking space per un… - Size limits for family daycare homes: mixed, low. A family daycare home may care for up to six children who are not relatives at the same time. The home may not have more than eight total people receiving day care. This sets clear capacity limits for small providers. - Easier small zoning changes for homes: mixed, low. The zoning officer can approve small dimensional changes fast, often without a hearing. Requests up to 15% (or 25% if local rules allow) must be decided within 10 days. Changes of 5% or less need no notice; bigger ones need mailed and newspaper notice and a 14‑day objection window, and you pay the… - Incentives and open space rules: mixed, low. Towns must offer zoning incentives when projects set aside permanent open space, face site limits, build affordable homes, or add other amenities. A developer may provide an in‑lieu payment or donate land or facilities instead of building an amenity on site. Required open land must be conveyed to t… - Town growth controls tied to plans: mixed, low. Towns must align zoning with their local comprehensive plan and send the plan, zoning text, and maps to the state. They may limit building permits or approvals only when the limits match the plan and protect public health, with a strict 120‑day cap for dire emergencies. A one‑time post‑plan morator… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Robert E. Craven, Sr. (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | Senate | COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE-- COURTS -- SUPERIOR COURT In Concurrence | pass | 22 | 16 | | | 2026-05-14 | House | SUPERIOR COURT PASSAGE | pass | 57 | 12 | | ## Actions (19) - 2026-06-23: Signed by Governor — Chapter 406 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed Sub A in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-10: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Committee recommends passage of Sub A in concurrence - 2026-06-05: Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026) - 2026-05-22: Referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government (Senate) - 2026-05-14: House passed Sub A (House) - 2026-05-10: Placed on House Calendar (05/14/2026) (House) - 2026-05-05: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-05-01: Proposed Substitute - 2026-05-01: Scheduled for consideration (05/05/2026) - 2026-04-15: Meeting postponed (04/16/2026) - 2026-04-15: Meeting postponed (04/16/2026) - 2026-04-10: Proposed Substitute - 2026-04-10: Scheduled for consideration - 2026-03-26: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-03-20: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/26/2026) - 2026-02-27: Introduced, referred to House Judiciary (House) ## Bill text - H8004 - As Introduced, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8004.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8004.pdf) - H8004 - Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8004A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8004A.pdf) ## Related bills - H8104: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY . (became law) - H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES . (became law) - H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT . (became law) - H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law) - S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H8004 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8004.htm) - [H8004 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8004.pdf) - [H8004 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8004A.htm) - [H8004 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8004A.pdf) ## Related - [H8104: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8104-2026) - [H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8046-2026) - [H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8025-2026) - [H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7866-2026) - [H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7642-2026) - [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8004-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).