Conn. Gen. Stat. § 8-13bb: Municipal housing growth plans.

(a) Each municipality, except for a municipality that has elected to comply with a regional housing growth plan, shall prepare and adopt a municipal housing growth plan for the municipality and shall submit such adopted plan to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management according to the following schedule:

(1) Not later than June 1, 2028, and every five years thereafter, for municipalities that are members of the Capitol Region planning region, the Northeastern Connecticut planning region, the Lower Connecticut River Valley planning region, the Northwest Hills planning region and the Southeastern Connecticut planning region; and

(2) After June 1, 2028, but not later than June 1, 2029, and every five years thereafter, for municipalities that are members of the South Central Connecticut planning region, the Greater Bridgeport planning region, the Naugatuck Valley planning region and the Western Connecticut planning region.

(b) A municipality may elect to comply with the requirements of the regional housing growth plan developed and adopted by the regional council of governments for the planning region in which such municipality is located pursuant to section 8-13cc in lieu of developing and adopting a municipal housing growth plan, provided (1) the municipality elects to comply with such regional housing growth plan not later than thirty days after such municipality receives notice of such municipality's affordable housing goal from such council of governments, and (2) such regional housing growth plan is approved by the municipality's chief executive officer and its planning commission or combined planning and zoning commission.

(c) If a municipality has not elected to comply with a regional housing growth plan pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, prior to the submission of a municipal housing growth plan pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, such municipality shall adopt an affordable housing goal. If such affordable housing goal is different from the affordable housing goal identified by the regional council of governments for such municipality pursuant to section 8-13dd, such municipality shall provide a written explanation to the regional council of governments that specifies the reasons for such difference.

(d) A municipal housing growth plan submitted by a municipality pursuant to this section shall address the following elements in a form and level of detail specified by guidelines issued by the secretary pursuant to subsection (i) of this section:

(1) The plan's consistency with (A) the municipal plan of conservation and development prepared pursuant to section 8-23, (B) the regional plan of conservation and development prepared pursuant to section 8-35a, (C) the state plan of conservation and development prepared pursuant to chapter 297, and (D) any plan adopted by the local water pollution control authority, if applicable;

(2) The identification, to the extent practicable, of specific zones or parcels that may be developed to meet the municipality's affordable housing goal through the process of summary review, as defined in section 8-2r, together with the maximum allowed residential density for each such area;

(3) The strategies the municipality has adopted or shall adopt to improve the accessibility of affordable housing units for individuals with an intellectual disability or other developmental disabilities;

(4) Strategies a municipality has adopted or shall adopt to promote the development of diverse types of housing units, considering factors such as unit size, number of bedrooms, construction type, density of development and ownership models;

(5) An inventory of developable land within the municipality, using the definition of developable land set forth in section 8-13aa;

(6) An explanation of how the plan conforms to and implements the requirements of subsection (b) of section 8-2, including addressing significant disparities in housing needs, affirmatively furthering the purposes of the federal Fair Housing Act, 42 USC 3601 et seq., as amended from time to time, and promoting housing choice and economic diversity;

(7) Identification of the projected infrastructure needs, including, but not limited to, projected wastewater capacity, and other improvements needed to meet the municipality's affordable housing goal; and

(8) An implementation schedule for the policies, strategies and other actions identified in the plan that is calculated to achieve the municipal affordable housing goal.

(e) Any municipality that the secretary has identified to be among the lowest twenty municipalities in adjusted equalized net grand lists per capita, as defined in section 10-261, as of the fiscal year immediately preceding the date any such municipality's municipal housing growth plan is due pursuant to this section shall prepare a municipal housing growth plan that (1) prioritizes the rehabilitation and preservation of existing affordable housing units, (2) identifies policies to promote the development of new dwelling units without displacing existing residents of the municipality, (3) identifies infrastructure improvements to support existing residents of the municipality, and (4) identifies specific opportunities for the development of new affordable housing units in the municipality. Any municipality that is not among the lowest twenty municipalities in adjusted equalized net grand lists per capita may include the factors described in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection in such municipality's municipal housing growth plan.

(f) Not later than ninety days before submitting a proposed municipal housing growth plan to the secretary, each municipality required to submit such a plan pursuant to this section shall submit such proposed plan to the regional council of governments for the planning region in which such municipality is located for review. Such regional council of governments shall review each proposed plan and propose any amendments to the plan, in writing, to the municipality not later than sixty days after receipt of the plan. If a municipality does not accept any such proposed amendment, the municipality shall provide a written explanation to the regional council of governments explaining why the municipality did not accept such proposed amendment.

(g) (1) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall approve or reject a municipal housing growth plan submitted under this section not later than one hundred twenty days after receipt. If such plan submitted by a municipality is rejected by the secretary, the secretary shall provide written notice of such rejection to the municipality, a statement of the reasons for rejection and the amendments proposed by the secretary required for approval of the plan. The secretary may only reject a plan submitted pursuant to this section if the secretary determines such plan does not conform with the requirements of this section.

(2) If the secretary does not approve or reject the municipal housing growth plan in the time provided by this subsection, the municipality shall submit such plan to the Council on Housing Development established pursuant to section 8-13ii for approval or denial. If the council denies such plan, the council shall provide (A) written notice of such denial to the municipality, (B) a statement of the reasons for denial, and (C) any amendments proposed by the council required for approval of the plan by the council. A municipality may submit an amended municipal housing growth plan to the council for approval or denial not later than thirty days after the receipt of a denial pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision.

(h) Following approval of a housing growth plan pursuant to this section, a municipality shall adopt and implement the housing growth policies set forth in such plan and shall submit an annual progress report in a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. Eligibility for awards from the housing growth program established pursuant to section 8-13jj shall be conditioned on demonstrated progress toward adopting and implementing housing growth policies and toward the municipality's affordable housing goal.

(i) Not later than March 1, 2026, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in consultation with the Commissioner of Housing and the regional councils of governments, shall issue publicly available guidelines that specify formats, mapping standards and standardized metrics for annual reporting, including, but not limited to, permits issued, certificates of occupancy and deed-restricted units by income level for both municipal housing growth plans and regional housing growth plans. The secretary may update such guidelines from time to time.

(j) A municipality may hold public informational meetings or other activities to inform residents about any proposed municipal housing growth plan or regional housing growth plan, as applicable, and shall post a copy of any proposed plan or amendment to such plan on the Internet web site of the municipality. If the municipality holds a public hearing, such posting of the proposed plan shall occur at least thirty-five days prior to the public hearing. After adoption of the municipal housing growth plan or regional housing growth plan, the municipality shall file the adopted plan in the office of the town clerk of such municipality and post the plan on the Internet web site of the municipality.

(k) If, at the same time the municipality is required to submit a municipal housing growth plan pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the municipality is also required to submit a municipal plan of conservation and development pursuant to section 8-23, the municipal housing growth plan may be included as part of such plan of conservation and development or may be submitted early to coincide with such plan, provided the municipality's next submission shall be five years thereafter.

(l) If a municipality fails to submit a municipal housing growth plan within the time required by this section, (1) the chief executive officer of such municipality shall submit a letter to the secretary that explains the reason for the failure to submit such plan and designates a date by which such plan shall be submitted, provided such date is not later than thirty days from the date such plan was required to be submitted, and (2) such municipality shall be ineligible for a moratorium that has not yet commenced concerning the affordable housing appeals procedure pursuant to subsection (l) of section 8-30g until such municipality submits such plan and such plan is approved pursuant to the provisions of this section.