WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 8469

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- COVENTRY'S NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Chippendale and 5 co-sponsors

Coventry speeds housing by deadlines for approvals and permits and temporarily counts in-progress units toward its housing inventory, converting to permanent after occupancy or 3 y

05/26/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 8469

Summary of HB 8469 (Rhode Island 2026) – Coventry’s New Construction Projects Act

Purpose and intent

HB 8469 proposes a targeted framework for Coventry's approach to new residential construction projects. The act establishes specific timelines for development approvals, clarifies permitting milestones, and creates a temporary mechanism to count new units toward Coventry’s housing inventory during construction. The overall aim is to accelerate and streamline Coventry’s development process while preserving a pathway for housing growth and alignment with the town’s housing and development goals.

Key provisions and changes

  • New Chapter added to Coventry’s Towns and Cities statute
    Creates Chapter 53.1, titled “Coventry’s New Construction Projects Act,” within Title 45.

  • Definitions (Section 45-53.1-2)

    • Bonus units: Additional residential units approved by Coventry as part of a development, per local zoning and development policies.
    • Building permit: Coventry-issued authorization to commence construction.
    • Certificate of occupancy: Coventry-issued confirmation that a building complies with codes and is safe for occupancy.
    • Final approval: Last authorization after all reviews/approvals for a development project.
    • Preliminary approval: Initial approval after review/recommendation by the municipal authority.

  • Timelines for approval and permitting (Section 45-53.1-3)

    • Preliminary to final approval: Must not exceed 1 year.
    • Final approval to building permit: Must not exceed 2 years.
    • If no building permit is requested within 2 years after final approval, the application/vested rights are void; the project must restart with a new application.

  • Temporary addition of units to Coventry’s total unit count (Section 45-53.1-4)

    • Upon a building permit request, the development’s approved units (including bonus units) are temporarily added to Coventry’s total housing unit count for the purpose of Coventry’s housing inventory.
    • Temporary units become permanent counts upon either:
    • Issuance of the certificate of occupancy, or
    • Three years from the building permit request date, whichever occurs first.
    • Coventry may count these units against other new developments while construction is ongoing, aiding ongoing compliance with housing goals while providing construction-phase flexibility.

  • Effective date
    The act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Developers pursuing residential projects in Coventry, who would operate under a one-year window for final approval, a two-year window to secure a building permit (with potential vesting loss if not pursued), and the temporary (then permanent) unit-count treatment.
  • Coventry city government and its housing/municipal authorities, which would administer the new timelines, permit processes, and unit-count accounting.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • The act sets explicit, capped timeframes for key development milestones (1 year for final approval after preliminary approval; 2 years from final approval to permit issuance).
  • It introduces a vesting risk: failure to obtain a permit within 2 years voids the approved plan, requiring restart.
  • The unit-count mechanism provides a temporary boost to housing inventory during construction, with conversion to permanent status upon occupancy or after 3 years, whichever comes first.

Overall, HB 8469 seeks to accelerate Coventry’s construction projects while balancing housing inventory metrics and project viability during construction.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.