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SB 676

AN ACT REQUIRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS BE NOT GREATER THAN FOUR STORIES.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Gordon

Connecticut bill caps affordable housing developments at four stories statewide, potentially limiting housing density and making projects economically unviable in expensive areas.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Housing
#affordablehousing
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Bill Summary · SB 676

Legislative bill overview

SB 676 would impose a maximum height restriction of four stories on all affordable housing developments in Connecticut. This limitation would apply statewide to any residential project designated as affordable housing, regardless of location, local zoning, or project circumstances.

Why is this important

Housing affordability is a critical issue in Connecticut, where median home prices and rents have risen significantly. Height restrictions directly affect housing density and development economics—taller buildings allow developers to create more units on limited land, which helps reduce per-unit costs and expand affordable housing supply. This bill would constrain that mechanism precisely where affordability needs are greatest.

Potential points of contention

  • Housing supply impact: Four-story caps severely limit density in urban/suburban areas where land is expensive, potentially making affordable projects economically unfeasible and reducing overall housing units developers can build
  • Local control vs. state mandate: The bill removes local zoning flexibility and municipal decision-making authority, imposing uniform restrictions that may not fit different community contexts (dense cities vs. rural areas)
  • Developer economics: Height restrictions increase per-unit land and infrastructure costs, potentially making projects unaffordable to develop or requiring larger public subsidies to offset reduced revenue
  • Equity concerns: May paradoxically reduce affordable housing production by making projects unviable, harming the low-income residents the bill intends to help

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

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