Animal Ordinances in Providence, RI (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Providence, Rhode Island, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Providence caps backyard hens at one per 800 square feet of lot, six max, with no roosters and mandatory coop specs.
Backyard Chicken Hens in Providence
Some RestrictionsProvidence Code of Ordinances § 4-37.3
The owner of any dwelling may keep or permit to be kept on the lot containing the dwelling, one (1) hen per eight hundred (800) square feet of total lot area, with a maximum of six (6) on any lot, provided that: (1) No person shall keep any rooster; ... The hen house must be located at least twenty (20) feet from any dwelling ... (8) All chicken hens must be confined between the hours of 9:00 p...
Dog Leash Laws
Providence requires every dog owner to keep their dog under restraint at all times, leashed, in a vehicle, or confined to the owner's property, under City Code § 4-33.
Providence Leash Law: Dogs Restrained
Some Restrictions§ 4-33
The owner shall keep his dog under restraint at all times and shall not permit such dog to be at large, off the premises or property of the owner, unless the control of a competent person by means of a leash or within a vehicle being driven or parked on the streets or within the property limits of its owner. (Ord. 1968, ch. 68-41, § 3, 6-6-68; Ord. 1972, ch. 72-65, § 1, 12-28-72; Ord. 1973, ...
Breed Restrictions
Providence requires owners of American pit bull dogs, pit bull terrier dogs, or Staffordshire terrier dogs to register with the city and carry $25,000 in liability insurance.
Pit Bull and Staffordshire Dog Registration
Significant RestrictionsCity Code § 4-54
Any person having the custody, ownership or control of any American pit bull dog, pit bull terrier dog, or Staffordshire terrier dog must register said dog with the city on a form to be provided by the city. Said form shall require the following information: Name, address and telephone number of the dog's owner; the address where said dog is harbored, if different from owner's address; dog's se...
Beekeeping
Providence lets residents keep honeybees without a building permit, but apiaries must sit in the rear yard, 10 feet off lot lines, in removable-frame hives.
Providence Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsProvidence Zoning Ordinance § 1302.C (Apiary)
Apiaries are permitted only in the rear yard and shall be located 10 feet from any lot line and the principal building. All bee colonies shall be kept in a removable frame hive, which shall be kept in sound and usable condition. Where any colony is located within 25 feet of a lot line...the beekeeper shall establish and maintain a flyway barrier at least six feet in height...so that bees are fo...
Wildlife Feeding
Providence bans loose wild-bird feeding on the ground: food must sit in a suitable container raised at least 48 inches off the ground under City Code § 12-119.
Feeding Wild Birds Rules in Providence
Some Restrictions§ 12-119
No person shall feed wild birds other than in suitable containers for the food, elevated at least forty-eight (48) inches above the ground level.
Pet Limits
Providence Animal Control and Rhode Island animal-cruelty laws treat hoarding cases as a serious public health concern, allowing seizure of animals and criminal charges under RI General Laws Title 4, Chapter 1.
Animal Hoarding and Cruelty Response
Heavy RestrictionsR.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-2
Any person who overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills, or causes or procures to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven when overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, cruelly beaten, mutilated, or cruelly killed, any animal, and whoever, having th...
Cat Rules
Providence does not require cat licensing under Chapter 4, but cats running at large may be impounded by Providence Animal Control, and Rhode Island state law requires rabies vaccination for all owned cats.
Cat Licensing and Outdoor Cat Rules
Few RestrictionsR.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-31
The owner or keeper of a dog, cat, or ferret shall have the animal vaccinated not earlier than three (3) months of age nor later than four (4) months of age. Any veterinarian or any person directed by a veterinarian who vaccinates a dog, cat, or ferret against rabies must issue a rabies vaccination certificate. No city or town may register or license a pet that is not vaccinated for rabies in a...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Providence requires dogs six months or older to be spayed or neutered unless the owner holds a city breeding permit or a vet-certified health exemption.
Providence Mandatory Dog Spay/Neuter Rule
Significant RestrictionsProvidence Code of Ordinances § 4-22(b)
Unless an individual has obtained a dog breeding permit, issued by animal control, as described in subsection (a) of this section, or the dog is otherwise exempt under the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, it shall be unlawful to:(1)Cause or allow any male or female dog, owned or harbored in the city, to breed;(2)Cause or allow any male dog, aged six (6) months or older, to remain u...
Pet Store Rules
Providence bans pet stores from selling live dogs or cats; shops may only host shelter or rescue animals for public adoption.
Providence Bans Retail Dog and Cat Sales
Heavy RestrictionsProvidence Code of Ordinances § 4-24
It is unlawful for any person to display, offer for sale, deliver, barter, auction, give away, transfer, or sell any live dog or cat in any pet store, retail business, or other commercial establishment located in the city.(c)Nothing in this section shall prevent the owner, operator, or employees of a pet store, retail business, or other commercial establishment located in the city from providin...
Pet Groomer Rules
Providence zones pet grooming businesses as an Animal Care Facility, requiring exterior exercise areas in side or rear yards, indoor overnight boarding, and sanitary conditions under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 1202.B.
Pet Grooming Facility Zoning Rules in Providence
Some RestrictionsProvidence Zoning Ordinance § 1202.B
B. Animal Care Facility 1. Exterior exercise areas shall be located in the interior side or rear yard. 2. All overnight boarding facilities shall be located indoors. 3. All animal quarters and exterior exercise areas shall be kept in a clean, dry, and sanitary condition. C. Automated Teller Machine - Standalone 1. A drive-thro...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Providence zones veterinary offices as an Animal Care Facility use, permitted by right in the C-2, C-3, W-2, M-1 and M-MU districts, but only as a special use in the D-1 downtown district.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules in Providence
Some RestrictionsProvidence Zoning Ordinance § 1202.B (Animal Care Facility use standards)
1. Exterior exercise areas shall be located in the interior side or rear yard. 2. All overnight boarding facilities shall be located indoors. 3. All animal quarters and exterior exercise areas shall be kept in a clean, dry, and sanitary condition. C. Automated Teller Machine - Standalone 1. A drive-through standalone Automated Teller Machine...
Bird Protection
Providence's park code bars anyone from bathing, fishing, or disturbing fish, birds, waterfowl, or other animals in park waters, giving city birds a direct legal shield inside park boundaries.
Providence Bans Disturbing Birds in City Parks
Some Restrictions§ 18-9
No person shall bathe or fish in, nor go into, nor send any animal into, any of the waters of any park, nor disturb any of the fish, birds, waterfowl or animals in any park, nor throw or place any article or thing in said waters; provided however, that fishing in any such waters from boats owned by the city may be allowed by the board of park commissioners at such time and under such regulation...