Providence requires rental property registration under §17-188 (2005 Lead Safe and Healthy Homes ordinance). Pawtucket Code §214 requires rental registration and inspection. Providence charges ~$100 registration plus lead inspection for pre-1978 properties.
Providence Code of Ordinances §17-188 (Minimum Housing Code) and the Providence Lead Hazard Mitigation Ordinance require most rental property owners to register units with the Department of Inspection and Standards. Registration involves a rental application, owner contact information, unit count, and an annual fee (approximately $100 per parcel plus $25 per unit). For any pre-1978 rental, RIGL §42-128.1 (Rhode Island Lead Hazard Mitigation Act) requires a Certificate of Compliance from a licensed lead hazard inspector every two years. Pawtucket's Rental Registration and Inspection program (Code §214) requires registration and periodic life-safety inspections. Woonsocket and Central Falls operate similar programs emphasizing triple-decker inspections. Rental units must meet the RI Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code (RIGL §45-24.3) including working smoke detectors, CO detectors (§23-28.25), adequate egress, and lead compliance. Cranston does not have mandatory registration but enforces minimum housing standards on complaint.
Operating unregistered rental in Providence: $100-$500 per unit under §17-188 with escalating penalties. No lead Certificate of Compliance: RIGL §42-128.1.8 civil penalties up to $10,000 plus tenant damages. Failed life-safety inspection: correction order and re-inspection fee.
Providence County, RI
Rhode Island does not set statewide barking dog standards. Providence County has no county government. Barking dog complaints are handled by individual munic...
Providence County, RI
RIGL 31-42 governs abandoned motor vehicles statewide. Vehicles left 10 or more days in commercial garages after notice are deemed abandoned. Individual muni...
Providence County, RI
Providence County cities prohibit sidewalk blocking and unpaved front-yard parking. Providence Code §23-21 and Cranston Code require paved driveway surfaces....
Providence County, RI
RIGL 34-10-9 requires partition fences to run on the dividing line with each owner maintaining one-half and costs shared equally unless otherwise agreed. RIG...
Providence County, RI
RI State Building Code (SBC-1) exempts fences under 6 feet from building permits, but Providence County cities require zoning permits for most new fences. Hi...
Providence County, RI
Urban Providence County cities (Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket) restrict or prohibit backyard chickens. Smithfield, Lincoln, Cumberland, and Johnston a...
See how Providence County's rental registration rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.