AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- RHODE ISLAND INCLUSIVE HOME DESIGN ACT (Addresses any single-family construction, townhouse construction, and multi-family construction complying with the Standards for Visitable Units of the ANSI' Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.)

H8021

2026 -- H 8021
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- RHODE ISLAND
INCLUSIVE HOME DESIGN ACT

Introduced By:
Representatives Stewart, Tanzi, Handy, Cruz, Morales, Potter, Speakman,
and Spears

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 23-27.3 of the General Laws entitled "State Building Code" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following article:
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ARTICLE 4
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RHODE ISLAND INCLUSIVE HOME DESIGN ACT
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§ 23-27.3-800. Short title.

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This article shall be known and may be cited as the “Rhode Island Inclusive Home Design
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Act.”
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§ 23-27.3-801. Definitions.

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As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings, except where
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the context clearly indicates otherwise:
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(1) "Article" means the Rhode Island inclusive home design act.
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(2) "American National Standards Institute (ANSI)" means the organization that facilitates
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the development of American National Standards through the accreditation of the procedures of
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standards developing organizations and approves their documents as American National Standards
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(ANS). These documents provide technical guidelines on how to make residences accessible to
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people with disabilities to varying degrees. Designers and builders use ANSI standards to
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demonstrate compliance with industry best practices. Codes like the International Building Code
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(IBC) reference ANSI standards.

1

(3) “Covered dwelling unit” is defined by §§ 23-27.3-802 and 23-27.3-803 of this article;
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(4) "International Building Code (IBC)" means a comprehensive regulatory building code
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that is legally enforceable standards adopted by jurisdictions. The IBC applies to general building
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construction and major renovations, setting safety and welfare requirements.
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§ 23-27.3-802. Visitability requirement.

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(a) All new single-family construction, townhouse construction, and multi-family
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construction which does not include an elevator as part of its overall design, permitted after July 1,
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2027, shall include no fewer than one level that complies with the Standards for Type C (Visitable)
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Units of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI') Standards for Accessible and Usable
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Buildings and Facilities (section 1105 of ICC ANSI A117.1-2017). Any updates to the ANSI
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Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units shall be applied to this section upon adoption by the building
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code standards committee.
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(b) All new multifamily construction which does include an elevator as part of its overall
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design, permitted after July 1, 2027, shall provide that all units comply with the Standards for Type
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C (Visitable) Units of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards for Accessible
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and Usable Buildings and Facilities (section 1105 of ICC ANSI A117.1-2017). Any updates to the
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ANSI Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units shall be applied to this section upon adoption by the
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building code standards committee.
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(c) This requirement does not apply to manufactured housing, adaptive re-use within the
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existing building envelope, or redevelopment of existing buildings.
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§ 23-27.3-803. Basic adaptability requirement.

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(a) All new multi-family construction with two (2) or more units, permitted after July 1,
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2027, shall include no fewer than one level that complies with the Standards for Type B (basic
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adaptability) Units of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards for Accessible
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and Usable Buildings and Facilities (section 1105 of ICC ANSI A117.1-2017). Any updates to the
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ANSI Standards for Type B (basic adaptability) Units shall be applied to this section upon adoption
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by the building code standards committee.
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(b) This requirement does not apply to manufactured housing, adaptive re-use within the
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existing building envelope, or redevelopment of existing buildings.
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§ 23-27.3-804. Implementation and enforcement.

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(a) In the instance that a covered dwelling unit subject to the provisions outlined by this
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article, cannot comply with its requirements, in whole or in part, the aggrieved party may make an
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appeal in accordance with § 23-27.3-127.1(b)(1).
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(b) Local permitting authorities shall not issue a build permit for any covered dwelling

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units that do not comply with the applicable standards after July 1, 2027, unless the development
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has received a variance and the proposed design is consistent with that variance.
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(c) Local permitting authorities shall not issue a certificate of occupancy on any covered
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units that do not comply with the applicable standards which were permitted after July 1, 2027,
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unless the development has received a variance and the completed units are consistent with the
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requirements of that variance.
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(d) The standards set forth in §§ 23-27.3-802 and 23-27.3-803 are intended to supplement
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and not replace other accessibility requirements. Where specific requirements in this article differ
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from or conflict with other state or federal accessibility requirements, the most stringent required
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accessible standard applies.
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§ 23-27.3-805. Disclaimer of preemptive effect.

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Nothing in this article shall limit any right, procedure, or remedy available under the
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Constitution of the United States, the Rhode Island Constitution, or any other chapter of the general
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laws.
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§ 23-27.3-806. Severability.

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If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is
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held invalid, the remaining provisions of this article and the application of those provisions to other
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persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- RHODE ISLAND
INCLUSIVE HOME DESIGN ACT
***
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This article would be known as the Rhode Island Inclusive Home Design Act. The act
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would address any single-family construction, townhouse construction, and multi-family
3
construction complying with the Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units of the American National
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Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (section
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1105 of ICC ANSI A117.1-2017). The act would also require that any updates to the ANSI
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Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units be applied upon adoption by the building code standards
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committee.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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