Providence County coastal properties on Narragansett Bay fall under Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) jurisdiction under RIGL §46-23. CRMC permits (Assent) required for any work within 200 ft of tidal water. Setbacks tied to erosion rates.
Coastal portions of Providence County (East Providence waterfront, Pawtucket/Providence rivers, Seekonk River, Narragansett Bay frontage in parts of Providence and East Providence) are regulated by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council under the Coastal Resources Management Program (CRMP) and RIGL §46-23. Any construction, alteration, or filling within 200 feet of the inland edge of a coastal feature (Section 100.1) requires a CRMC Assent. Structural setbacks from shoreline are calculated at 30 × the annual erosion rate for single-family homes, 60× for multi-family, per CRMP §140. Sea-level rise standards under §145 now require new shoreline development to anticipate 7-9 feet of rise by 2100 for critical coastal infrastructure. Coastal buffer zones (CBZ) of 25-200 ft protect vegetation. Public shoreline access is constitutionally protected under RI Constitution Article I §17 and must be preserved. Seawalls and bulkheads face strong presumption against approval per §300.7.
Unpermitted coastal construction: CRMC cease & desist, restoration order, and civil penalties up to $2,500/day under RIGL §46-23-7.1. Wetland or dune damage: full restoration required. Blocking shoreline access: injunctive relief and fines.
Providence County, RI
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Providence County, RI
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Providence County, RI
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Providence County, RI
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Providence County, RI
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Providence County, RI
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See how Providence County's coastal development rules stack up against other locations.
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