Rhode Island General Laws Title 45. Towns and Cities § 45-24-38. General provisions--Substandard lots of record. [Effective January 1, 2024.]

(1) Minimum building setbacks, lot frontage, and lot width requirements for a lot that is nonconforming in area shall be reduced by applying the building setback, lot frontage, and lot width requirements from another zoning district in the municipality in which the subject lot would be conforming as to lot area. If the subject lot is not conforming as to lot area in any zoning district in the municipality, the setbacks, lot frontage, and lot width shall be reduced by the same proportion that the area of such substandard lot meets the minimum lot area of the district in which the lot is located. By way of example, if the lot area of a substandard lot only meets forty percent (40%) of the minimum lot area required in the district in which it is located, the setbacks, lot frontage, and lot width shall each be reduced to forty percent (40%) of the requirements for those dimensional standards in the same district.

(2) Maximum lot building coverage for lots that are nonconforming in area shall be increased by the inverse proportion that the area of such substandard lot meets the minimum area requirements in the district in which the lot is located. By way of example, if the lot area of a substandard lot only meets forty percent (40%) of the required minimum lot area, the maximum lot building coverage is allowed to increase by sixty percent (60%) over the maximum permitted lot building coverage in that district.

All proposals exceeding such reduced requirement shall proceed with a modification request under § 45-24-46 or a dimensional variance request under § 45-24-41, whichever is applicable.