Providence does not impose a true vacancy tax but charges escalating registration and inspection fees for vacant and abandoned buildings under Code chapter 6, with steeper amounts for repeat-listed properties.
Rhode Island has not authorized a city vacancy tax, so Providence relies on its vacant-and-abandoned property registry. Owners must register a building once it sits empty, secure all openings, post emergency contact signage, and pay annual fees that grow each year a property remains vacant. Inspectional Services and the Department of Public Property administer enforcement. The list feeds into nuisance-property tracking, receivership petitions, and tax-sale prioritization. Providence supplements this with a Tax Stabilization program designed to incentivize redevelopment.
Failing to register a vacant property, ignoring escalating fees, or skipping repairs leads to liens, receivership actions, and inclusion on the city's nuisance-properties list.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Providence, RI
Providence has no general ordinance restricting lawn ornaments, statues, or yard decorations on private residential property. Decorations must stay within pr...
Providence, RI
Providence has no specific ordinance regulating inflatable holiday displays on private residential property. Inflatables must remain on private property and ...
Providence, RI
Providence does not have a dedicated ordinance restricting residential holiday lighting. General electrical safety and nuisance standards apply. Permanent ex...
Providence, RI
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Providence require permits from the Department of Inspection and Standards when they involve gas, plumbing, electrical, or stru...
Providence, RI
Providence treats wood, pellet, and charcoal smokers the same as charcoal grills under NFPA 1 Section 10.11.7 (Rhode Island State Fire Code). Use on balconie...
Providence, RI
Rhode Island has adopted NFPA 1 (the National Fire Protection Association Uniform Fire Code, 2018 edition) under R.I. Gen. Laws Section 23-28.1 as the State ...
See how Providence's vacancy tax rules stack up against other locations.
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