Cranston, RI Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 8.28.030 Neglected Premises
- Covers
- vacant lots visible from public view
- Enforcement
- Department of Building Inspections
- Base fine
- $50.00, doubles/triples if unpaid
- Continuing violation
- each day is a separate offense
Summary
Cranston requires owners of vacant lots visible from public view to keep them clean and orderly, matching neighboring properties, or face building-inspection citations and escalating fines under the city's neglected-premises ordinance.
It shall be the duty of any person owning or controlling a house or other building or premises, including vacant lots visible from any public place or private premises, in a reasonably clean and orderly manner and to a standard conforming to other orderly premises in that vicinity. It shall be a violation of this section to abandon, neglect or disregard the condition or appearance of any premises so as to permit it to accumulate litter, refuse, rubbish and/or trash thereon.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4824304; v14 updated 2026-05-18).
Full Breakdown
Cranston Code § 8.28.030 makes it the duty of anyone owning or controlling a vacant lot visible from a public place or private premises to keep it in a reasonably clean and orderly condition, matching the standard of other well-kept properties nearby. Letting litter, refuse, rubbish or trash accumulate is a violation. The department of building inspections and department of public works enforce the rule through periodic inspections under § 8.28.090; each day a violation continues unabated is a separate offense, with fines set by the § 8.28.100 penalty schedule, including a $50.00 charge for improper maintenance of land.
Violations & Fines
Building inspection issues a citation for each day the lot remains cluttered; the § 8.28.100 penalty schedule sets a $50.00 fine for improper maintenance of land, escalating if unpaid within 14 or 28 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cranston require vacant lots to be mowed or cleared?
What happens if I ignore a neglected-lot notice?
Who enforces Cranston's vacant lot maintenance rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cranston
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Vacant Lot Maintenance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle vacant lot maintenance.