Warwick, RI Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 40-10
- Covers
- Doorway trespass and malicious doorbell ringing
- 1st/2nd offense fine
- $50.00, payable by mail
- 3rd+ offense
- General penalty, up to $500/30 days
- Last amended
- Ord. No. O-00-16 (2000)
Summary
Warwick makes it unlawful to remain on a home's doorway or steps without the owner's consent, block a residence's passage, or mischievously knock or ring a doorbell to alarm, annoy or disturb the occupants under City Code § 40-10.
No person shall be or remain upon any doorway, steps or other projection of any dwelling house within the city, without the consent of the owner or occupant thereof, or obstruct any passage to or from the same or the appurtenances thereof, or shall mischievously or maliciously knock at any door or ring any doorbell, at any dwelling house, so as to alarm, annoy or disturb any person therein. Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $50.00 for the first and second offense by a person. The fine may be paid by mail or in person at the city municipal court. Upon the third and each subsequent violation of this section, a person shall be subject to the penalties set forth in section 1-4 of the Code.
Full Breakdown
Section 40-10 targets uninvited disturbances at private residences directly. It bars a person from being or remaining upon any doorway, steps or other projection of a dwelling house in the city without the owner's or occupant's consent, from obstructing any passage to or from the dwelling or its appurtenances, and separately bars mischievously or maliciously knocking at a door or ringing a doorbell at any dwelling house so as to alarm, annoy or disturb anyone inside. Unlike a formal no-solicitation registry with posted signs and canvasser permits, Warwick's approach is this direct conduct ban: it does not require a resident to post a no-knock notice for the ordinance to apply, and it covers both trespass-style loitering at a doorway and malicious ringing or knocking. The section traces to Code 1971, § 13-13, and was last amended by Ord. No. O-00-16 in 2000, which is also when the current fine structure below was set.
Violations & Fines
A first or second violation carries a $50.00 fine, payable by mail or in person at the city municipal court. A third and each subsequent violation drops the fixed fine and instead exposes the person to the Code's general penalty under § 1-4: up to $500.00 or 30 days imprisonment, with each day of continued disturbance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Warwick have a formal 'no soliciting' registry?
What's the fine for violating the doorbell-ringing ordinance?
Does the ordinance cover blocking a doorway, not just ringing bells?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Warwick
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