Researcher: JSB Page 1 4/8/25
OLR Bill Analysis
HB 7061
AN ACT CONCERNING MANDATORY MINIMUM PARKING
REQUIREMENTS.
SUMMARY
For municipalities exercising zoning authority under the statutes (i.e.
CGS § 8-2) rather than a special act, this bill prohibits their zoning
regulations from establishing minimum off-street parking requirements
for “any development.” In practice, many municipalities have adopted
zoning regulations that include a schedule of off-street parking
requirements that vary based on a proposed project’s use (e.g., retail or
housing) and size (e.g., square footage or number of bedrooms). Under
the bill, these formulaic schedules are prohibited. But municipalities
retain their general authority to adopt regulations designed to lessen
congestion in the streets and promote health and general welfare.
The bill also eliminates a provision in current law that authorizes
planning and zoning bodies to adopt regulations on paying fees in lieu
of providing parking. The authorization the bill eliminates applies to all
zoning regulations (including those adopted under special act
authority) as well as subdivision regulations adopted by a planning
commission under statutory authority. (Eliminating this authority is a
conforming change with respect to zoning regulations adopted under
CGS § 8-2.) Under current law, planning and zoning bodies may adopt
regulations allowing applicants subject to a minimum parking
requirement to pay a fee instead of providing the required parking
spaces, if they make certain findings. Specifically, current law requires
the planning or zoning body to determine that the number of required
parking spaces (1) cannot be physically located on the parcel or (2)
would result in an excess number of parking spaces for the use or area.
The bill also makes several conforming changes to reflect its
prohibition on formulaic minimum parking requirements in regulations 2025HB-07061-R000596-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 2 4/8/25
adopted under CGS § 8-2. This includes repealing a law that allows
municipalities to opt out of certain restrictions on setting minimum
parking requirements for housing developments. (Under the bill, these
restrictions are repealed and replaced with the blanket prohibition on
minimum parking requirements discussed above.)
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2025
BACKGROUND
Related Bill
HB 7034 (File 244), favorably reported by the Housing Committee,
eliminates provisions in current law that allow planning commissions
to adopt subdivision regulations authorizing a developer to pay a fee to
the municipality, or pay a fee and transfer land, instead of providing
any required open space.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Planning and Development Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 12 Nay 7 (03/21/2025)