Noise & nuisance across Rhode Island
What are the quiet hours? What noise is allowed?
35 of 39 municipalities in Rhode Island have an adopted ordinance on noise & nuisance on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrington Town |
Chapter 130 - Noise
adopted 2003-06-30 |
— | 2026-06-05 |
| Bristol Town |
Chapter 10, Article II - Noise | — | None |
| Burrillville Town |
Chapter 16 - Noise | — | None |
| Central Falls City |
Zoning Ordinance - Noise Provisions
adopted 2025-02-10 |
— | None |
| Charlestown Town |
Chapter 152 - Noise
+1 more |
— | None |
| Coventry Town |
Chapter 169 - Noise | — | None |
| Cranston City |
Chapter 8.20 - Noise Control
+1 more |
quiet hours: Residential premises measured at property line: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. = 55 dB(A); 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. = 40 dB(A) | None |
| Cumberland Town |
Chapter 14, Article II - Noise | — | None |
| East Greenwich Town |
Chapter 152 - Noise | — | None |
| East Providence City |
Chapter 19, Division 16 - Industrial Processes (Noise) | exemptions: Variance to exceed limits may be granted for temporary, short-term operations during construction, maintenance or emergency conditions. | None |
| Exeter Town |
Zoning Ordinance Article IV, Section 4.5 - Operating Standards (Noise)
+1 more |
— | None |
| Foster Town |
Chapter 38, Article VII - Special Use Permits (Noise Control) | — | None |
| Glocester Town |
Ordinance 2-03-02 - Offensive Noise as Public Nuisance | fines: not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) | None |
| Jamestown Town |
Chapter 70 - Traffic and Vehicles | — | None |
| Johnston Town |
Town of Johnston Code of Ordinances - Chapter 224 Noise | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Lincoln Town |
Town of Lincoln Code of Ordinances - Chapter 175 Noise | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Little Compton Town |
Town of Little Compton Code of Ordinances - Chapter 3 Police Regulations / Excessive Noise Prohibited | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Middletown Town |
Town of Middletown Code of Ordinances - Title XIII General Offenses / Noise Ordinance (Sections 130.75-130.91) | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Narragansett Town |
Town of Narragansett Code of Ordinances - Public Nuisance / Unruly Gatherings (Chapter 1048) | fines: $500.00 fine | 2026-06-05 |
| Newport City |
City of Newport Code of Ordinances - Title 8 Health and Safety / Chapter 8.12 Noise Control | — | 2026-06-05 |
| North Kingstown Town |
Town of North Kingstown Code of Ordinances - Chapter 21 Zoning / Article XI Performance Standards (Noise) | — | 2026-06-05 |
| North Providence Town |
Town of North Providence Code of Ordinances - Chapter 19 Noise/Muffler (Section 19-485) | fines: Muffler violation | $25.00; Noise limits exceeded | $25.00 | 2026-06-05 |
| North Smithfield Town |
Town of North Smithfield Code of Ordinances - Chapter 8 Health and Sanitation / Article VII Noise (Sections 8-110 through 8-128)
+1 more |
quiet hours: Yelling/shouting, loading/unloading, and similar acts prohibited between 10:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day; musical instruments/devices plainly audible at 50 feet prohibited 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. · construction hours: Construction, demolition, rock crushing and earthmoving under a valid permit allowed 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays; prohibited any hour Sunday and legal holidays. · exemptions: Emergency/emergency-vehicle sound; unamplified human voice; agricultural activities on 10+ acre parcels; military operations; town-sanctioned sporting; legal firearm discharge; town-licensed fireworks; snow removal anytime. | 2026-06-05 |
| Pawtucket City |
City of Pawtucket Code of Ordinances - Chapter 286 Noise | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Portsmouth Town |
Town of Portsmouth Code of Ordinances - Chapter 257 Noise Abatement | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Providence City |
City of Providence Municipal Code - Chapter 16 Noise / Section 16-97 Residential Zone Equipment
+1 more |
quiet hours: Residential: 65 dBA 7:00 a.m. to 9:59 p.m. / 55 dBA 10:00 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. · construction hours: construction/repair unlawful 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (special permit from director of public works required) · exemptions: Emergency work; utility service restoration. No special permit required for emergency work. | 2026-06-05 |
| Richmond Town |
Town of Richmond Code of Ordinances - Title 8 Health and Safety / Chapter 8.14 Noise Pollution | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Smithfield Town |
Town of Smithfield, RI Noise (Chapter 252) | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Tiverton Town |
Tiverton Chapter 38 — Environment (Noise Ordinance)
+1 more |
quiet hours: Residential and open space: 60 dB(A) 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; 55 dB(A) 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. · construction hours: Permitted construction/demolition allowed between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. each day · exemptions: Emergency work; weapons discharge 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; licensed fireworks 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.; snow removal; yard/lawn equipment 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. | 2026-06-05 |
| Warren Town |
Warren Zoning Ordinance — Article X (Regulation of Manufacturing Uses / Noise) | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Warwick City |
Warwick Section 40-13 — Maximum Permissible Noise Level | quiet hours: 60 dBA 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; 50 dBA 10:00 p.m.–8:00 a.m. · fines: $50.00 for first and second offense; third and subsequent per section 1-4 of the Code | 2026-06-05 |
| West Greenwich Town |
West Greenwich Chapter 269 — Noise | — | 2026-06-05 |
| West Warwick Town |
West Warwick Zoning Ordinance — Section 5.8.4 (Noise Performance Standards) | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Westerly Town |
Westerly Chapter 171 — Noise | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Woonsocket City |
Woonsocket Chapter 14 — Miscellaneous Offenses and Provisions (Noise Ordinance) | construction hours: weekdays from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM; weekends from 5:00 PM Saturday through 7:00 AM Monday (operation of outdoor construction/earth moving equipment NOT permitted during these hours) · exemptions: emergency/public safety vehicles, city/utility vehicles, permitted public activities; emergency utility/roadway work · fines: $100 for the first offense; $200 second offense within one calendar year; not less than $300 nor more than $500 for third and subsequent offense | 2026-06-05 |
Nothing on file for noise & nuisance
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Other ordinances on file, none on this topic (4) — Hopkinton, New Shoreham, Scituate, South Kingstown.