§ 45-24-31. Definitions. [Effective until January 1, 2026.]
Where words or terms used in this chapter are defined in § 45-22.2-4 or § 45-23-32, they have the meanings stated in that section. In addition, the following words
have the following meanings. Additional words and phrases may be used in developing
local ordinances under this chapter; however, the words and phrases defined in this
section are controlling in all local ordinances created under this chapter:
(1) Abutter. One whose property abuts, that is, adjoins at a border, boundary, or point with no
intervening land.
(2) Accessory dwelling unit (ADU). A residential living unit on the same lot where the principal use is a legally established
single-family dwelling unit or multi-family dwelling unit. An ADU provides complete
independent living facilities for one or more persons. It may take various forms including,
but not limited to: a detached unit; a unit that is part of an accessory structure,
such as a detached garage; or a unit that is part of an expanded or remodeled primary
dwelling.
(3) Accessory use. A use of land or of a building, or portion thereof, customarily incidental and subordinate
to the principal use of the land or building. An accessory use may be restricted to
the same lot as the principal use. An accessory use shall not be permitted without
the principal use to which it is related.
(4) Adaptive reuse. "Adaptive reuse,â€� as defined in § 42-64.22-2.
(5) Aggrieved party. An aggrieved party, for purposes of this chapter, shall be:
(i) Any person, or persons, or entity, or entities, who or that can demonstrate that their
property will be injured by a decision of any officer or agency responsible for administering
the zoning ordinance of a city or town; or
(ii) Anyone requiring notice pursuant to this chapter.
(6) Agricultural land. "Agricultural land,â€� as defined in § 45-22.2-4.
(7) Airport hazard area. "Airport hazard area,â€� as defined in § 1-3-2.
(8) Applicant. An owner, or authorized agent of the owner, submitting an application or appealing
an action of any official, board, or agency.
(9) Application. The completed form, or forms, and all accompanying documents, exhibits, and fees required
of an applicant by an approving authority for development review, approval, or permitting
purposes.
(10) Buffer. Land that is maintained in either a natural or landscaped state, and is used to screen
or mitigate the impacts of development on surrounding areas, properties, or rights-of-way.
(11) Building. Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.
(12) Building envelope. The three-dimensional space within which a structure is permitted to be built on
a lot and that is defined by regulations governing building setbacks, maximum height,
and bulk; by other regulations; or by any combination thereof.
(13) Building height. For a vacant parcel of land, building height shall be measured from the average,
existing-grade elevation where the foundation of the structure is proposed. For an
existing structure, building height shall be measured from average grade taken from
the outermost four (4) corners of the existing foundation. In all cases, building
height shall be measured to the top of the highest point of the existing or proposed
roof or structure. This distance shall exclude spires, chimneys, flag poles, and the
like. For any property or structure located in a special flood hazard area, as shown
on the official FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), or depicted on the Rhode Island
coastal resources management council (CRMC) suggested design elevation three foot
(3′) sea level rise (CRMC SDE 3 SLR) map as being inundated during a one-hundred-year
(100) storm, the greater of the following amounts, expressed in feet, shall be excluded
from the building height calculation:
(i) The base flood elevation on the FEMA FIRM plus up to five feet (5′) of any utilized
or proposed freeboard, less the average existing grade elevation; or
(ii) The suggested design elevation as depicted on the CRMC SDE 3 SLR map during a one-hundred-year
(100) storm, less the average existing grade elevation. CRMC shall reevaluate the
appropriate suggested design elevation map for the exclusion every ten (10) years,
or as otherwise necessary.
(14) Cluster. A site-planning technique that concentrates buildings in specific areas on the site
to allow the remaining land to be used for recreation, common open space, and/or preservation
of environmentally, historically, culturally, or other sensitive features and/or structures.
The techniques used to concentrate buildings shall be specified in the ordinance and
may include, but are not limited to, reduction in lot areas, setback requirements,
and/or bulk requirements, with the resultant open land being devoted by deed restrictions
for one or more uses. Under cluster development, there is no increase in the number
of lots that would be permitted under conventional development except where ordinance
provisions include incentive bonuses for certain types or conditions of development.
(15) Common ownership. Either:
(i) Ownership by one or more individuals or entities in any form of ownership of two (2)
or more contiguous lots; or
(ii) Ownership by any association (ownership may also include a municipality) of one or
more lots under specific development techniques.
(16) Community residence. A home or residential facility where children and/or adults reside in a family setting
and may or may not receive supervised care. This does not include halfway houses or
substance-use-disorder-treatment facilities. This does include, but is not limited
to, the following:
(i) Whenever six (6) or fewer children or adults with intellectual and/or developmental
disability reside in any type of residence in the community, as licensed by the state
pursuant to chapter 24 of title 40.1. All requirements pertaining to local zoning are waived for these community residences;
(ii) A group home providing care or supervision, or both, to not more than eight (8) persons
with disabilities, and licensed by the state pursuant to chapter 24 of title 40.1;
(iii) A residence for children providing care or supervision, or both, to not more than
eight (8) children, including those of the caregiver, and licensed by the state pursuant
to chapter 72.1 of title 42;
(iv) A community transitional residence providing care or assistance, or both, to no more
than six (6) unrelated persons or no more than three (3) families, not to exceed a
total of eight (8) persons, requiring temporary financial assistance, and/or to persons
who are victims of crimes, abuse, or neglect, and who are expected to reside in that
residence not less than sixty (60) days nor more than two (2) years. Residents will
have access to, and use of, all common areas, including eating areas and living rooms,
and will receive appropriate social services for the purpose of fostering independence,
self-sufficiency, and eventual transition to a permanent living situation.
(17) Comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan adopted and approved pursuant to chapter 22.2 of this title
and to which any zoning adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be in compliance.
(18) Day care — Daycare center. Any other daycare center that is not a family daycare home.
(19) Day care — Family daycare home. Any home, other than the individual's home, in which day care in lieu of parental
care or supervision is offered at the same time to six (6) or less individuals who
are not relatives of the caregiver, but may not contain more than a total of eight
(8) individuals receiving day care.
(20) Density, residential. The number of dwelling units per unit of land.
(21) Development. The construction, reconstruction, conversion, structural alteration, relocation,
or enlargement of any structure; any mining, excavation, landfill, or land disturbance;
or any change in use, or alteration or extension of the use, of land.
(22) Development plan review. See §§ 45-23-32 and 45-23-50.
(23) District. See "zoning use district.�
(24) Drainage system. A system for the removal of water from land by drains, grading, or other appropriate
means. These techniques may include runoff controls to minimize erosion and sedimentation
during and after construction or development; the means for preserving surface and
groundwaters; and the prevention and/or alleviation of flooding.
(25) Dwelling unit. A structure, or portion of a structure, providing complete, independent living facilities
for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating,
cooking, and sanitation, and containing a separate means of ingress and egress.
(26) Extractive industry. The extraction of minerals, including: solids, such as coal and ores; liquids, such
as crude petroleum; and gases, such as natural gases. The term also includes quarrying;
well operation; milling, such as crushing, screening, washing, and flotation; and
other preparation customarily done at the extraction site or as a part of the extractive
activity.
(27) Family member. A person, or persons, related by blood, marriage, or other legal means, including,
but not limited to, a child, parent, spouse, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandparents,
grandchildren, domestic partner, sibling, care recipient, or member of the household.
(28) Floating zone. An unmapped zoning district adopted within the ordinance that is established on the
zoning map is effective only when an application for development, meeting the zone
requirements, is approved and the approved plan is recorded.
(29) Floodplains, or Flood hazard area. As defined in § 45-22.2-4.
(30) Freeboard. A factor of safety expressed in feet above the base flood elevation of a flood hazard
area for purposes of floodplain management. Freeboard compensates for the many unknown
factors that could contribute to flood heights, such as wave action, bridge openings,
and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed.
(31) Groundwater. "Groundwaterâ€� and associated terms, as defined in § 46-13.1-3.
(32) Halfway house. A residential facility for adults or children who have been institutionalized for
criminal conduct and who require a group setting to facilitate the transition to a
functional member of society.
(33) Hardship. See § 45-24-41.
(34) Historic district or historic site. As defined in § 45-22.2-4.
(35) Home occupation. Any activity customarily carried out for gain by a resident, conducted as an accessory
use in the resident's dwelling unit. For the purposes of this chapter, home occupation
does not include remote work activities as defined in § 45-24-37.
(36) Household. One or more persons living together in a single-dwelling unit, with common access
to, and common use of, all living and eating areas and all areas and facilities for
the preparation and storage of food within the dwelling unit. The term "household
unit� is synonymous with the term "dwelling unit� for determining the number of units
allowed within any structure on any lot in a zoning district. An individual household
shall consist of any one of the following:
(i) A family, which may also include servants and employees living with the family; or
(ii) A person or group of unrelated persons living together. The maximum number may be
set by local ordinance, but this maximum shall not be less than one person per bedroom
and shall not exceed five (5) unrelated persons per dwelling. The maximum number shall
not apply to NARR-certified recovery residences.
(37) Incentive zoning. The process whereby the local authority may grant additional development capacity
in exchange for the developer's provision of a public benefit or amenity as specified
in local ordinances.
(38) Infrastructure. Facilities and services needed to sustain residential, commercial, industrial, institutional,
and other activities.
(39) Land development project. As defined in § 45-23-32.
(40) Lot. Either:
(i) The basic development unit for determination of lot area, depth, and other dimensional
regulations; or
(ii) A parcel of land whose boundaries have been established by some legal instrument,
such as a recorded deed or recorded map, and that is recognized as a separate legal
entity for purposes of transfer of title.
(41) Lot area. The total area within the boundaries of a lot, excluding any street right-of-way,
usually reported in acres or square feet.
(42) Lot area, minimum. The smallest land area established by the local zoning ordinance upon which a use,
building, or structure may be located in a particular zoning district.
(43) Lot building coverage. That portion of the lot that is, or may be, covered by buildings and accessory buildings.
(44) Lot depth. The distance measured from the front lot line to the rear lot line. For lots where
the front and rear lot lines are not parallel, the lot depth is an average of the
depth.
(45) Lot frontage. That portion of a lot abutting a street. A zoning ordinance shall specify how noncontiguous
frontage will be considered with regard to minimum frontage requirements.
(46) Lot line. A line of record, bounding a lot, that divides one lot from another lot or from a
public or private street or any other public or private space and shall include:
(i) Front: the lot line separating a lot from a street right-of-way. A zoning ordinance
shall specify the method to be used to determine the front lot line on lots fronting
on more than one street, for example, corner and through lots;
(ii) Rear: the lot line opposite and most distant from the front lot line, or in the case
of triangular or otherwise irregularly shaped lots, an assumed line at least ten feet
(10′) in length entirely within the lot, parallel to and at a maximum distance from,
the front lot line; and
(iii) Side: any lot line other than a front or rear lot line. On a corner lot, a side lot
line may be a street lot line, depending on requirements of the local zoning ordinance.
(47) Lot size, minimum. Shall have the same meaning as "minimum lot area� defined herein.
(48) Lot, through. A lot that fronts upon two (2) parallel streets, or that fronts upon two (2) streets
that do not intersect at the boundaries of the lot.
(49) Lot width. The horizontal distance between the side lines of a lot measured at right angles
to its depth along a straight line parallel to the front lot line at the minimum front
setback line.
(50) Manufactured home. As used in this section, a manufactured home shall have the same definition as in
42 U.S.C. § 5402, meaning a structure, transportable in one or more sections, which, in the traveling
mode, is eight (8) body feet or more in width or forty (40) body feet or more in length,
or, when erected on site, is three hundred twenty (320) or more square feet, and which
is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with a permanent
foundation connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating,
air-conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein; except that such term
shall include any structure that meets all the requirements of this definition except
the size requirements and with respect to which the manufacturer voluntarily files
a certification required by the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
and complies with the standards established under chapter 70 of Title 42 of the United States Code; and except that such term shall not include any self-propelled
recreational vehicle.
(51) Mere inconvenience. See § 45-24-41.
(52) Mixed use. A mixture of land uses within a single development, building, or tract.
(53) Modification. Permission granted and administered by the zoning enforcement officer of the city
or town, and pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to grant dimensional relief
from the zoning ordinance to a limited degree as determined by the zoning ordinance
of the city or town, but not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of each of the applicable
dimensional requirements, except as set forth in § 45-24-46(c).
(54) Nonconformance. A building, structure, or parcel of land, or use thereof, lawfully existing at the
time of the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance and not in conformity with
the provisions of that ordinance or amendment. Nonconformance is of only two (2) types:
(i) Nonconforming by use: a lawfully established use of land, building, or structure that
is not a permitted use in that zoning district. A building or structure containing
more dwelling units than are permitted by the use regulations of a zoning ordinance
is nonconformity by use; or
(ii) Nonconforming by dimension: a building, structure, or parcel of land not in compliance
with the dimensional regulations of the zoning ordinance. Dimensional regulations
include all regulations of the zoning ordinance, other than those pertaining to the
permitted uses. A building or structure containing more dwelling units than are permitted
by the use regulations of a zoning ordinance is nonconforming by use; a building or
structure containing a permitted number of dwelling units by the use regulations of
the zoning ordinance, but not meeting the lot area per dwelling unit regulations,
is nonconforming by dimension.
(55) Overlay district. A district established in a zoning ordinance that is superimposed on one or more
districts or parts of districts. The standards and requirements associated with an
overlay district may be more or less restrictive than those in the underlying districts
consistent with other applicable state and federal laws.
(56) Performance standards. A set of criteria or limits relating to elements that a particular use or process
must either meet or may not exceed.
(57) Permitted use. A use by right that is specifically authorized in a particular zoning district.
(58) Planned development. A "land development project,� as defined in subsection (39), and developed according
to plan as a single entity and containing one or more structures or uses with appurtenant
common areas.
(59) Plant agriculture. The growing of plants for food or fiber, to sell or consume.
(60) Preapplication conference. A review meeting of a proposed development held between applicants and reviewing
agencies as permitted by law and municipal ordinance, before formal submission of
an application for a permit or for development approval.
(61) Setback line or lines. A line, or lines, parallel to a lot line at the minimum distance of the required
setback for the zoning district in which the lot is located that establishes the area
within which the principal structure must be erected or placed.
(62) Site plan. The development plan for one or more lots on which is shown the existing and/or the
proposed conditions of the lot.
(63) Slope of land. The grade, pitch, rise, or incline of the topographic landform or surface of the
ground.
(64) Special use. A regulated use that is permitted pursuant to the special-use permit issued by the
authorized governmental entity, pursuant to § 45-24-42. Formerly referred to as a special exception.
(65) Structure. A combination of materials to form a construction for use, occupancy, or ornamentation,
whether installed on, above, or below the surface of land or water.
(66) Substandard lot of record. Any lot lawfully existing at the time of adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance
and not in conformance with the dimensional or area provisions of that ordinance.
(67) Use. The purpose or activity for which land or buildings are designed, arranged, or intended,
or for which land or buildings are occupied or maintained.
(68) Variance. Permission to depart from the literal requirements of a zoning ordinance. An authorization
for the construction or maintenance of a building or structure, or for the establishment
or maintenance of a use of land, that is prohibited by a zoning ordinance. There are
only two (2) categories of variance, a use variance or a dimensional variance.
(i) Use variance. Permission to depart from the use requirements of a zoning ordinance
where the applicant for the requested variance has shown by evidence upon the record
that the subject land or structure cannot yield any beneficial use if it is to conform
to the provisions of the zoning ordinance.
(ii) Dimensional variance. Permission to depart from the dimensional requirements of a
zoning ordinance under the applicable standards set forth in § 45-24-41.
(69) Waters. As defined in § 46-12-1(23).
(70) Wetland, coastal. As defined in § 45-22.2-4.
(71) Wetland, freshwater. As defined in § 2-1-20.
(72) Zoning certificate. A document signed by the zoning enforcement officer, as required in the zoning ordinance,
that acknowledges that a use, structure, building, or lot either complies with, or
is legally nonconforming to, the provisions of the municipal zoning ordinance or is
an authorized variance or modification therefrom.
(73) Zoning map. The map, or maps, that are a part of the zoning ordinance and that delineate the
boundaries of all mapped zoning districts within the physical boundary of the city
or town.
(74) Zoning ordinance. An ordinance enacted by the legislative body of the city or town pursuant to this
chapter and in the manner providing for the adoption of ordinances in the city or
town's legislative or home rule charter, if any, that establish regulations and standards
relating to the nature and extent of uses of land and structures; that is consistent
with the comprehensive plan of the city or town as defined in chapter 22.2 of this
title; that includes a zoning map; and that complies with the provisions of this chapter.
(75) Zoning use district. The basic unit in zoning, either mapped or unmapped, to which a uniform set of regulations
applies, or a uniform set of regulations for a specified use. Zoning use districts
include, but are not limited to: agricultural, commercial, industrial, institutional,
open space, and residential. Each district may include sub-districts. Districts may
be combined.