2025 -- H 6185
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LC002696
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AN D CITIES -- TIVERTON'S NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
ACT
Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, and McGaw
Date Introduced: April 04, 2025
Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing
(Tiverton)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 45 of the General Laws entitled "TOWNS AND CITIES" is hereby 1
amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 2
CHAPTER 53.1 3
TIVERTON'S NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACT 4
45-53.1-1. Title. 5
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Tiverton's New Construction Projects 6
Act." 7
45-53.1-2. Definitions. 8
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following 9
meanings: 10
(1) "Bonus units" means additional residential units approved by the town of Tiverton as 11
part of a development project in accordance with the town's zoning and development policies. 12
(2) "Building permit" means a permit issued by the town of Tiverton granting authorization 13
for the commencement of construction on a project. 14
(3) "Certificate of occupancy" means a certificate issued by the town of Tiverton 15
confirming that a building has been completed in compliance with all building codes and is safe 16
for occupancy. 17
(5) "Preliminary approval" means the initial approval granted to a development project 18
LC002696 - Page 2 of 3
after review and recommendation by the appropriate municipal authority. 1
(4) "Final approval" means the final authorization given by the town of Tiverton following 2
successful completion of all necessary review and approval processes for a development project. 3
45-53.1-3. Timelines for approval and permitting. 4
(a) In the town of Tiverton, the period between the granting of preliminary approval and 5
the granting of final approval for a development project shall not exceed one year. 6
(b) In the town of Tiverton, the period between the granting of final approval and the 7
issuance of a building permit shall not exceed two (2) years. 8
(c) In the town of Tiverton, if the applicant does not request a building permit within the 9
two (2) year period following final approval, the application and vesting shall be considered void. 10
The development process shall need to be restarted, and the applicant will need to resubmit a new 11
application for review and approval. 12
45-53.1-4. Temporary addition of units to town's total unit count. 13
(a) In the town of Tiverton, once an applicant requests a building permit, the number of 14
units approved for the development, including any bonus units, shall be temporarily added to the 15
total unit count. This count shall be included in the town of Tiverton's current housing inventory. 16
(b) The units, including bonus units, shall be permanently added to the town of Tiverton's 17
unit count upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the development or three (3) years 18
from the date of the request for a building permit, whichever occurs first. 19
(c) The town of Tiverton shall be allowed to count the units, including bonus units, against 20
other new developments while the construction is ongoing. This shall ensure that the town of 21
Tiverton remains in compliance with its housing and development goals, while still providing 22
flexibility to the applicant during the construction phase. 23
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 24
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LC002696 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AN D CITIES -- TIVERTON'S NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
ACT
***
This act would set timelines for Tiverton's new construction, including one year for final 1
approval, two (2) years for building permits, and temporary inclusion of units in the town's count 2
until completion or three (3) years, whichever comes first. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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LC002696
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