Providence, RI Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide park curfew
- 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Governing section
- § 18-29.1
- Roger Williams Park hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Enforcing body
- Board of park commissioners
- Max general penalty
- $500 fine or 30 days jail
Summary
Providence closes its public parks nightly, with the city authorized to shut all city-owned parks from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and post closure notices at each entrance.
The board of park commissioners is hereby authorized to cause all city owned parks, as it may deem necessary, to be closed to the public from the hours of 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and post notices accordingly.
(Ord. 1973, ch. 73-14, § 1, 3-9-73)
Editor's note— Ord. 1973, ch. 73-14, § 1, did not expressly amend this Code, hence inclusion herein as § 18-29.1 was at the discretion of the editors.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 7).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 18-29.1, the board of park commissioners may close any city-owned park to the public between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., posting notices to announce the closure. Roger Williams Park runs on a matching schedule under § 18-2, open 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with entry outside those hours barred except for vehicular through-traffic and anyone holding written permission from the board or the superintendent of parks. General Code violations are punishable under § 1-10 by a fine of $1 to $500, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both.
Violations & Fines
Being in a city park after 9:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. without board permission violates §§ 18-2/18-29.1; the § 1-10 general penalty is a $1-$500 fine, up to 30 days jail, or both, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Providence's city parks closed at a set time every night?
Does Roger Williams Park have its own posted hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Providence
Compare Providence to another location·View the Rhode Island curfew laws overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle park curfew.