Rhode Island General Laws Title 45. Towns and Cities § 45-24.6-7. Permit required to erect, construct, alter, repair, or demolish structure--Commission quorum and voting

(a) Before any structure may be erected, constructed, altered, repaired, or demolished within a special economic development district, the person proposing the construction or other alteration shall file with the commission an application for permission to erect, construct, alter, repair, or demolish the structure, together with plans and specifications, all that may be required by regulations adopted by the commission. It is the duty of the commission to review the application, plans, and specifications, and no building permit shall be granted until the commission has acted on it. No construction or other alteration of a structure may be undertaken within a special development district without a permit. The commission may, by regulation, coordinate permit approvals with state building officials and fire marshals, city or town officials, or duly qualified independent staff or consultants.

(b) Nothing in this chapter prevents, or is to be construed to prevent, ordinary maintenance or repair of any structure within the special economic development district; nor shall anything in this chapter prevent, or be construed to prevent, the continuance of the use of any building or improvement for any purpose to which the building or improvement was lawfully devoted at the time of the adoption of a plan of development, or to prevent or be construed to prevent the erection, construction, alteration, repair, or demolition of any structure under a permit issued by the inspector of buildings prior to the adoption of a plan of development pursuant to this chapter.

(c) At all meetings of the commission, a majority of the commissioners is necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the commissioners present at any meeting at which there is a quorum is the act of the commission, except as otherwise provided by law.