R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-30 (2026)

General purposes of zoning ordinances

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) Zoning regulations shall be developed and maintained in accordance with a comprehensive plan prepared, adopted, and as may be amended, in accordance with chapter 22.2 of this title and shall be designed to address the following purposes. The general assembly recognizes these purposes, each with equal priority and numbered for reference purposes only.

(1) Promoting the public health, safety, and general welfare.

(2) Providing for a range of uses and intensities of use appropriate to the character of the city or town and reflecting current and expected future needs.

(3) Providing for orderly growth and development that recognizes:

(i) The goals and patterns of land use contained in the comprehensive plan of the city or town adopted pursuant to chapter 22.2 of this title;

(ii) The natural characteristics of the land, including its suitability for use based on soil characteristics, topography, and susceptibility to surface or groundwater pollution;

(iii) The values and dynamic nature of coastal and freshwater ponds, the shoreline, and freshwater and coastal wetlands;

(iv) The values of unique or valuable natural resources and features;

(v) The availability and capacity of existing and planned public and/or private services and facilities;

(vi) The need to shape and balance urban and rural development; and

(vii) The use of innovative development regulations and techniques.

(4) Providing for the control, protection, and/or abatement of air, water, groundwater, and noise pollution, and soil erosion and sedimentation.

(5) Providing for the protection of the natural, historic, cultural, and scenic character of the city or town or areas in the municipality.

(6) Providing for the preservation and promotion of agricultural production, forest, silviculture, aquaculture, timber resources, and open space.

(7) Providing for the protection of public investment in transportation, water, stormwater management systems, sewage treatment and disposal, solid waste treatment and disposal, schools, recreation, public facilities, open space, and other public requirements.

(8) Promoting a balance of housing choices, for all income levels and groups, to assure the health, safety, and welfare of all citizens and their rights to affordable, accessible, safe, and sanitary housing.

(9) Providing opportunities for the establishment of low- and moderate-income housing.

(10) Promoting safety from fire, flood, and other natural or unnatural disasters.

(11) Promoting a high level of quality in design in the development of private and public facilities.

(12) Promoting implementation of the comprehensive plan of the city or town adopted pursuant to chapter 22.2 of this title.

(13) Providing for coordination of land uses with contiguous municipalities, other municipalities, the state, and other agencies, as appropriate, especially with regard to resources and facilities that extend beyond municipal boundaries or have a direct impact on that municipality.

(14) Providing for efficient review of development proposals, to clarify and expedite the zoning approval process.

(15) Providing for procedures for the administration of the zoning ordinance, including, but not limited to, variances, special-use permits, and, where adopted, procedures for modifications.

(16) Providing opportunities for reasonable accommodations in order to comply with the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act, chapter 37 of title 34; the United States Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (FHAA); the Rhode Island Civil Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, chapter 87 of title 42; and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.

Provided, however, that any zoning ordinance in which a community sets forth standards or requirements for the location, design, construction, or maintenance of on-site wastewater treatment systems shall first be submitted to the director of the department of environmental management for approval as to the technical merits of the ordinance. In addition, any zoning ordinance in which a municipality sets forth standards regarding wetland requirements, shall first be submitted to the director of the department of environmental management for approval as to the technical merits of the ordinance.

(b) Upon the effective date of this section, a city or town shall no longer be authorized to adopt as a provision of its zoning ordinance new requirements that specify buffers or setbacks in relation to freshwater wetland, freshwater wetland in the vicinity of the coast, or coastal wetland or that specify setback distances between an onsite wastewater treatment system and a freshwater wetlands, freshwater wetland in the vicinity of the coast, or coastal wetland.

(c) Cities and towns shall be prohibited from applying the requirements in existing zoning ordinances pertaining to both wetland buffers and onsite wastewater treatment system setbacks to development, redevelopment, construction, or rehabilitation applications submitted to a municipality. Nothing herein shall rescind the authority of a city or town to enforce other local zoning requirements.

(d) Cities and towns shall act to amend their ordinances and regulations to conform to this section within twelve (12) months of the effective date of state regulations referenced herein.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1999–2021 · leading case: Cullen v. Town Council of the Lincoln, 850 A.2d 900 (R.I. 2004).
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Cullen v. Town Council of the Lincoln, 850 A.2d 900 (R.I. 2004). · cites it 2× “See G.L. 1956 § 45-24-30. Although it is undisputed that petitioners have a right to tie into the sewer system, the town council cannot be held hostage to petitioners’ sewer system plans.”
Bernuth v. Zoning Bd. of Review, 770 A.2d 396 (R.I. 2001). “antially the same as § 706 D of the zoning ordinance: "(c) * * * (1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
Maynard v. Beck, 741 A.2d 866 (R.I. 1999). · cites it 2× “Section 45-24-30 of the act requires that zoning ordinances be developed and maintained in accordance with a comprehensive plan prepared pursuant to the Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act, G.”
Kenlin Props., LLC v. City of East Providence, 139 A.3d 491 (R.I. 2016). “g standards is entered into the record of the proceedings: "(1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique *502 characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
The New Castle Realty Co. v. Raymond Dreczko, Jr., in his capacity as member of the Town of Charlestown Zoning Bd. of Review (R.I. 2021). · cites it 3× “lowing standards is entered into the record of the proceedings: “(1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
The New Castle Realty Co. v. Raymond Dreczko, Jr., in his capacity as member of the Town of Charlestown Zoning Bd. of Review (R.I. 2021). · cites it 3× “lowing standards is entered into the record of the proceedings: “(1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
Fed. Hill Capital, LLC v. City of Providence, by & through its Treasurer, James Lombardi (R.I. 2020). · cites it 2× “City of Providence Zoning Ordinance § 1-101(A) and § 1-101(H); see G.L. 1956 § 45-24-30(a)(1), (8). The rationality of the Amendment is further illustrated by its adherence to the City of Providence’s Comprehensive Plan, a document which the General Assembly requires all cities…”
Kenlin Props., LLC v. City of East Providence (R.I. 2016). “lowing standards is entered into the record of the proceedings: “(1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-30(16) — 3 cases
Bernuth v. Zoning Bd. of Review, 770 A.2d 396 (R.I. 2001). “antially the same as § 706 D of the zoning ordinance: "(c) * * * (1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
Kenlin Props., LLC v. City of East Providence, 139 A.3d 491 (R.I. 2016). “g standards is entered into the record of the proceedings: "(1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique *502 characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
Kenlin Props., LLC v. City of East Providence (R.I. 2016). “lowing standards is entered into the record of the proceedings: “(1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-30(a)(1) — 1 case
Fed. Hill Capital, LLC v. City of Providence, by & through its Treasurer, James Lombardi (R.I. 2020). “City of Providence Zoning Ordinance § 1-101(A) and § 1-101(H); see G.L. 1956 § 45-24-30(a)(1), (8). The rationality of the Amendment is further illustrated by its adherence to the City of Providence’s Comprehensive Plan, a document which the General Assembly requires all cities…”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-30(a)(16) — 2 cases
The New Castle Realty Co. v. Raymond Dreczko, Jr., in his capacity as member of the Town of Charlestown Zoning Bd. of Review (R.I. 2021). “lowing standards is entered into the record of the proceedings: “(1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
The New Castle Realty Co. v. Raymond Dreczko, Jr., in his capacity as member of the Town of Charlestown Zoning Bd. of Review (R.I. 2021). “lowing standards is entered into the record of the proceedings: “(1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-30(c) — 2 cases
The New Castle Realty Co. v. Raymond Dreczko, Jr., in his capacity as member of the Town of Charlestown Zoning Bd. of Review (R.I. 2021). “lowing standards is entered into the record of the proceedings: “(1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
The New Castle Realty Co. v. Raymond Dreczko, Jr., in his capacity as member of the Town of Charlestown Zoning Bd. of Review (R.I. 2021). “lowing standards is entered into the record of the proceedings: “(1) That the hardship from which the applicant seeks relief is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics of the surrounding area; and is not due to a…”
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