H8040AaaCities & Towns

Towns and Cities - Zoning Ordinances

This bill requires certified recovery houses to be legally classified and treated as residential properties, not commercial buildings.

In committee56 Yea11 Nay8 Not voting

Population
Affected

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Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Municipal Government & Housing

Plain-English Summary

This bill establishes rules for how cities and towns classify recovery houses that are certified by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR). It requires that these recovery houses be treated legally as residential properties, granting them the same rights and responsibilities as regular homes under local zoning laws. Furthermore, the bill prevents these recovery houses from being classified as commercial buildings for the purposes of state fire or building codes, ensuring they are only subject to specific residential life safety codes.

For younger readers

This bill makes a rule about "recovery houses," which are homes where people live together to help each other stay healthy and stop using dangerous drugs or alcohol. The bill says that cities and towns must treat these recovery houses just like regular family homes. They cannot be treated like stores or businesses when it comes to rules about building safety and fire alarms. This means they will follow the same rules as the house or apartment you live in.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Recovery house operatorsIndividuals recovering from addictionResidential property ownersLocal zoning boardsMunicipal fire marshals

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Prevents discriminatory local zoning practices that often target recovery houses, ensuring individuals recovering from addiction have equal access to standard residential neighborhoods.
Supports vulnerable populations by removing burdensome commercial building and fire code requirements, making it easier and less expensive to operate much-needed recovery homes.
Promotes community integration for individuals in recovery, aligning with systemic reforms that treat substance use disorders as a public health issue rather than a criminal or institutional one.
Limits the ability of local municipalities to implement stricter fire and safety codes, which could potentially put vulnerable residents in crowded recovery homes at risk.
Relies entirely on a private organization (NARR) for certification, effectively outsourcing government oversight and standard-setting for vulnerable populations to a third-party entity.
Fails to provide public funding or financial assistance to help establish or maintain these recovery homes, leaving the financial burden on individuals and private operators instead of expanding the social safety net.

For Conservatives

Reduces government overreach by deregulating recovery homes, preventing local municipalities from imposing heavy, business-level zoning restrictions on private property owners.
Lowers regulatory costs for private operators by ensuring they do not have to pay for expensive commercial-grade fire and building code upgrades.
Encourages private, community-based solutions to substance abuse recovery rather than relying on state-funded institutional programs or government-run healthcare facilities.
Overrides local control and home rule, preventing cities and towns from deciding what types of housing and facilities are appropriate for their own neighborhoods.
Forces residential neighborhoods to accept multi-person recovery facilities, which some may view as a disruption to traditional family neighborhood environments and a threat to local property values.
Mandates compliance with standards set by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, an unelected national organization, rather than leaving standards up to local jurisdictions or free-market competition.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

3 versions

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 13 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 45-24 of the General Laws entitled "Zoning Ordinances" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 45-24-33.1. Recovery houses.

(a) For purposes of this section, a NARR-certified recovery residence means a residential structure that provides recovery support services for those people recovering from substance use addiction and that complies with standards established by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR).

(b) Except as otherwise provided within the general laws, any law, regulation or ordinance regulating the zoning and use of a residential NARR-certified recovery residence:

(1) Shall treat a NARR-certified recovery residence as a residential use of property which shall have all the rights and responsibilities afforded to a residential use of property.

(2) Shall not subject the recovery residence to any restrictions, prohibitions, or other provisions, including provisions related to the state building or fire codes that are not contained in the Rhode Island life safety code § 26.1.1.1.8.3. At no time shall a recovery residence house under this chapter be given the designation of a commercial structure for fire and or building codes.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.