HB 2225 – Forest Template Dwellings: A forest template dwelling is the primary method for obtaining a dwelling on property zoned for forest use. This bill will eliminate some of the opportunities currently used to site template dwellings, making it more difficult for property owners to build a home on their forest zoned property.
OPOA led the opposition to the bill, and we were able to make significant changes to blunt the impact of the bill from the version that was first introduced. While most property owners should be able to work around the bill requirements, at least for the next couple of years, it remains a disappointing bill. We expect a flurry of template dwelling applications as a result of passage of the bill, as property owners look to maximize their ability to site these dwellings before the changes resulting from the bill take effect.