Municipalities may suspend local reviews for emergency SAFE housing

A municipality may suspend certain local planning, zoning, and building approval steps to allow SAFE Units during an emergency. This applies to municipalities seeking to allow temporary SAFE Units for people experiencing homelessness. The mayor, town administrator, or equivalent chief executive must declare the emergency, and the municipal council must approve it. The declaration must be for severe weather or the aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster. The units must meet the SAFE Unit requirements in § 23-27.3-101.5. A declaration lasts 60 days. The council may renew it in 30-day periods, up to 180 days per year.

SAFE Units that meet specified standards are allowed under the building and fire code provisions, with related exemptions from housing code rules. SAFE Units are temporary residential structures intended to give people experiencing homelessness safety and privacy while they move toward permanent housing. A state or local fire marshal, where applicable, and a state building official must confirm the unit meets the listed standards. The standards cover alarms, exits, minimum space, weather protection, ventilation, and electricity. Plumbing and gas service must meet applicable code rules; accessory units must meet SAFE Unit rules or qualify as self-contained facilities. These provisions apply to SAFE Units allowed through a zoning ordinance or emergency authority. The housing code exemption applies only to units that meet the specified standards.

A municipality’s chief executive must report on each emergency declaration and the SAFE Units to state leaders. This duty applies to the mayor, town administrator, or equivalent chief executive of a municipality that declares an emergency under this section. The reports must describe the emergency, the municipality’s response, and the number of people served by SAFE Units. The first report is due within 30 days of the declaration, with another due every 60 days afterward.