Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Affordable housing" means residential housing that is rented or owned by a person or household whose monthly housing costs, including utilities other than telephone, do not exceed thirty percent of the household's monthly income.

     (2) "Department" means the department of commerce.

     (3) "Director" means the director of commerce.

     (4) "Nonprofit organization" means any public or private nonprofit organization that: (a) Is organized under federal, state, or local laws; (b) has no part of its net earnings inuring to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual; and (c) has among its purposes significant activities related to the provision of decent housing that is affordable to very low-income, low-income, or moderate-income households and special needs populations.

     (5) "Regulatory barriers to affordable housing" and "regulatory barriers" mean any public policies (including those embodied in statutes, ordinances, regulations, or administrative procedures or processes) required to be identified by the state or local government in connection with its strategy under section 105(b)(4) of the Cranston-Gonzalez national affordable housing act (42 U.S.C. 12701 et seq.).

     (6) "Tenant-based organization" means a nonprofit organization whose governing body includes a majority of members who reside in the housing development and are considered low-income households.

[2009 c 565 § 39; 1995 c 399 § 104; 1993 c 478 § 4.]