R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-22-5 (2026)

Local licensing of amusements

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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Any city or town council, the board of police commissioners, or in the case of the city of Providence, the bureau of licenses, or any other licensing board or authority in any city or town may require a license for any place within its respective city or town at which any performances, shows, exhibitions, public roller skating, dances, or balls are presented or conducted for any term not exceeding one year, and may deny, revoke, or refuse to renew any such license only upon the ground that the place presents a danger to the public health or safety.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases, 1958–2001 · leading case: Shipyard Drive-In-Theatre, Inc. v. Scuncio, 268 A.2d 820 (R.I. 1970).
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Shipyard Drive-In-Theatre, Inc. v. Scuncio, 268 A.2d 820 (R.I. 1970). · cites it 14× “1956, §5-22-5, as amended by P. L. 1966, chap. 260, sec.”
State v. Berberian, 427 A.2d 1298 (R.I. 1981). · cites it 12× “1956 (1976 Reenactment) § 5-22-5 should not bar prosecution because the license “lacked sufficient probative value on the question of obscenity to provide a shield against the indictments.”
Cadillac Lounge, LLC. v. City of Providence, 763 A.2d 993 (R.I. 2001). · cites it 7× “Further, we are not persuaded that G.L. 1956 § 5-22-5 5 vests the board with the *997 authority to deny the license in this case.”
State v. Tavone, 482 A.2d 693 (R.I. 1984). · cites it 6× “1956 (1976 Reenactment) § 5-22-5, the Legislature has delegated its police power to the cities and towns.”
State v. Lesieure, 404 A.2d 457 (R.I. 1979). · cites it 2× “1-4, to include the then current Roth-Memoirs definitions as illuminated or obscured by the national standard test suggested in Jacobellis , and the ad hoc determinations in Redrup .”
Chernov Enter., Inc. v. Scuncio, 268 A.2d 424 (R.I. 1970). · cites it 2× “” (§5-22-5 as amended by P. L. 1966, chap. 260, sec.”
Scuncio v. Shipyard Drive-In Theatre, Inc., 292 A.2d 873 (R.I. 1972). · cites it 4× “1956, §5-22-5, as amended by P. L. 1966, ch. 260, sec.”
Scuncio v. Columbus Theatre, Inc., 277 A.2d 924 (R.I. 1971). · cites it 3× “They have instituted this suit in accordance with the provisions of G.L. 1956, § 5-22-5, as amended by P.L. 1966, chap.”
Gimmicks, Inc. v. Dettore, 612 A.2d 655 (R.I. 1992). “1956 (1987 Reenactment) § 5-22-5. However, Gimmicks has failed to comply with Rule 32(b) of the Supreme Court Rules.”
Town of West Greenwich v. Stepping Stone Enter., Ltd., 416 A.2d 659 (R.I. 1979). “— The town councils and city councils may license, regulate and in those certain cases specifically set forth in §5-22-5 may prohibit and suppress theatrical performances, rope and wire dancing and all other shows and performances in their respective towns, conforming to law.”
Kingsley Int'l Pictures Corp. v. City of Providence, Rhode Island, 166 F. Supp. 456 (D.R.I. 1958). “One is for Sunday exhibitions as provided under § 5-22-8 of the Rhode Island General Laws 1956, and the other is for weekday exhibitions under § 5-22-5. In order to facilitate the issuance of licenses the evidence disclosed that applications are signed in blank by the various…”
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