Providence County municipalities enforce property maintenance codes under RIGL Title 45 Ch. 24.3 (Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code) and local minimum housing ordinances. Blight conditions including peeling paint, broken windows, and accumulated debris trigger written notices with 10-30 day compliance periods, fines of $100-$500 per day, and municipal abatement with liens.
Rhode Island authorizes municipal property maintenance enforcement through RIGL §45-24.3 (State Minimum Housing Code) and RIGL §45-2-18, allowing cities and towns to adopt stricter local housing codes. Providence Code of Ordinances Ch. 17 (Housing) and §17-32 address unsafe and blighted structures, requiring exteriors to be free of peeling paint, loose siding, broken windows, rotted wood, and structural deterioration. Cranston Code Ch. 10.16 and Pawtucket Code Ch. 220 impose similar minimum housing standards. Woonsocket enforces its Chronic Nuisance Property ordinance against repeatedly-cited properties. Enforcement begins with a written Notice of Violation from the Minimum Housing inspector (or Building Official) specifying defects and a compliance deadline, typically 10-30 days. Non-compliance results in municipal court citations under RIGL §45-24.3-18. Providence imposes fines up to $500 per day per violation. The municipality may abate dangerous conditions under RIGL §45-24.3-17 and file a lien against the property for costs, which runs with the land until paid. Vacant buildings must be registered under many municipal vacant-property ordinances (Providence §17-189 et seq., annual fee).
Written Notice of Violation with 10-30 day compliance window under RIGL §45-24.3-13. Fines $100-$500 per day per violation (Providence §17-32). Municipal abatement of nuisance conditions with costs becoming a lien on the property per RIGL §45-24.3-17. Repeat or egregious violations may trigger Superior Court receivership under the Abandoned Property Act.
Pawtucket, RI
Pawtucket Code Chapter 286 (adopted 1972, Ord. No. 1369) prohibits noise exceeding the ambient base level by more than 5 dBA at the property line, or sound p...
Pawtucket, RI
Pawtucket's noise ordinance Chapter 286 covers animal noise under its general prohibition on unnecessary noise that disturbs the peace. Habitual barking cons...
Pawtucket, RI
Pawtucket regulates construction noise through Chapter 286 general noise provisions. Construction activities must comply with the 5 dBA above ambient standar...
Pawtucket, RI
Pawtucket regulates amplified music and events. Permits required for public amplification. Residential areas must comply with local noise ordinances.
Pawtucket, RI
Pawtucket's zoning ordinance allows storage of recreational vehicles in private garages and sheds. Tractor trailers are prohibited in residential zones. RVs ...
Pawtucket, RI
Pawtucket regulates driveway construction through building permits and zoning. Vehicles must not block sidewalks. Off-street parking requirements vary by lan...
See how Pawtucket's property blight rules stack up against other locations.
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