TOWNS AND CITIES -- COVENTRY S NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACT, the official text

H8469 2026 -- H 8469 ======== LC006316 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- COVENTRY S NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACT Introduced By: Representatives Nardone, Roberts, Chippendale, Read, Noret, and Serpa Date Introduced: April 17, 2026 Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Title 45 of the General Laws entitled TOWNS AND CITIES is hereby 2 amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 3 CHAPTER 53.1 4 COVENTRY S NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACT 5 45-53.1-1. Title. 6 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Coventry s New Construction Projects 7 Act. 8 45-53.1-2. Definitions. 9 For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following 10 meanings: 11 (1) Bonus units means additional residential units approved by the town of Coventry as 12 part of a development project in accordance with the town s zoning and development policies. 13 (2) Building permit means a permit issued by the town of Coventry granting 14 authorization for the commencement of construction on a project. 15 (3) Certificate of occupancy means a certificate issued by the town of Coventry 16 confirming that a building has been completed in compliance with all building codes and is safe 17 for occupancy. 18 (4) Final approval means the final authorization given by the town of Coventry following 1 successful completion of all necessary review and approval processes for a development project. 2 (5) Preliminary approval means the initial approval granted to a development project 3 after review and recommendation by the appropriate municipal authority. 4 45-53.1-3. Timelines for approval and permitting. 5 (a) In the town of Coventry, the period between the granting of preliminary approval and 6 the granting of final approval for a development project shall not exceed one year. 7 (b) In the town of Coventry, the period between the granting of final approval and the 8 issuance of a building permit shall not exceed two (2) years. 9 (c) In the town of Coventry, if the applicant does not request a building permit within the 10 two (2) year period following final approval, the application and vesting shall be considered void. 11 The development process shall need to be restarted, and the applicant will need to resubmit a new 12 application for review and approval. 13 45-53.1-4. Temporary addition of units to town s total unit count. 14 (a) In the town of Coventry, once an applicant requests a building permit, the number of 15 units approved for the development, including any bonus units, shall be temporarily added to the 16 total unit count. This count shall be included in the town of Coventry s current housing inventory. 17 (b) The units, including bonus units, shall be permanently added to the town of Coventry s 18 unit count upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the development or three (3) years 19 from the date of the request for a building permit, whichever occurs first. 20 (c) The town of Coventry shall be allowed to count the units, including bonus units, against 21 other new developments while the construction is ongoing. This allowance shall ensure that the 22 town of Coventry remains in compliance with its housing and development goals, while still 23 providing flexibility to the applicant during the construction phase. 24 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC006316 ======== LC006316 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- COVENTRY S NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACT *** 1 This act would set timelines for Coventry s new construction, including one year for final 2 approval, two (2) years for building permits, and temporary inclusion of units in the town s count 3 until completion or three (3) years, from the requested date of the building permit whichever comes 4 first. 5 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC006316 ======== LC006316 - Page 3 of 3