AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES

HB 5796 amends Rhode Island's zoning law to require municipalities to include new residential options in their zoning ordinances. Specifically, it adds a requirement that zoning rules must permit "residential use options that are not limited to single-family detached structures" in areas with existing public water and sewer capacity within urban service boundaries. This change directly affects towns and cities as they update their zoning codes, enabling more housing types like duplexes or townhomes without requiring new infrastructure. The key mechanism is mandating this flexibility in zoning districts where water and sewer systems already exist, aiming to increase housing diversity. The bill does not override existing single-family zoning but expands permissible options in eligible areas.