S.F. No. 3259 Summary

• Municipalities are encouraged to adopt policies facilitating unsubsidized affordable housing through smaller lot sizes for single-family homes, two-family homes and townhouses on single-family zoned lots, and mixed-use development.

• Municipalities cannot require planned unit development agreements if proposed residential development complies with existing zoning ordinances or qualifies as a conditional use.

• Municipalities are prohibited from conditioning building permit approval on specific aesthetic materials or design requirements not mandated by the State Building Code.

• Commissioner of labor and industry cannot adopt new residential energy codes or amendments unless increased construction costs are offset within five years by energy savings, with exception for public health and safety changes; no new residential building codes may be adopted prior to January 1, 2026 without legislative approval.

• Agencies must approve or deny building permit and zoning requests within 60 days; failure to deny within 60 days constitutes automatic approval; commissioner shall establish cost per square foot valuation for one- and two-family, townhouse, and accessory buildings for permit fee purposes.