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7/1/2025
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New law to clarify local zoning opinions
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Legislation is part of Speaker Shekarchi’s 2025 housing package
STATE HOUSE — Newly enacted legislation introduced by Rep. Tina L. Spears and Sen. Victoria Gu will allow those purchasing property to rely on the zoning certificates or opinions they receive from local officials. The bill was approved by the legislature June 21 and signed into law Friday.
The legislation is part of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) package of legislation regarding housing issues.
“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.”
Said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown), “To address our housing crisis, Rhode Island needs to remove roadblocks to development. The uncertainty surrounding local zoning certificates is one of them. This bill removes ambiguity and clarifies that zoning certificates can be appealed to the zoning board.”
The bill (2025-H 5795A, 2025-S 1084A), which took effect immediately, will allow purchasers to reasonably rely on zoning opinions issued by local officials. Previously, when a current or prospective property owner obtained a zoning certificate, the certificate was for instructive purposes only and not binding. The new law eliminated the non-binding nature of zoning certificates to allow property owners to rely on the municipal determination of the legality of the present use.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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