Council OKs Building Permit Scofflaw Penalties, Zoning Changes

WARWICK, RI — The Warwick City Council approved all four items up for second passage Monday night, setting penalties for construction without building permits and making two zoning changes.

Now, in the event someone erects, enlarges or alters a structure, installs or alters any equipment, regulated by code, without a building permit, they’ll face the following fines: 

• First offense, $250 for each permit plus a processing fee of $750.00 plus the cost of each building permit that should have been applied for.
• Second offense, $500 for each permit plus a processing fee of $1,500 plus the cost for each permit that would have been incurred if a building permit were issued in the first instance.
• Third offense, $500 for each permit plus a processing fee of $2,250 plus the cost for each permit that would have been incurred if a permit were issued in the first instance.

The Council also passed an ordinance allowing right turns from Airport Road on to Evergreen Avenue, a change of lots 542, 543 and 544 on Assessor’s Plat 376 a from Residential A-7 and A-10 zoning to Waterfront Business and switching the classification of lot 179 on Assessor’s Plat 271 from General Business to General Business with Planned District Residential (PDR) Overlay District.

Remaining items on the Council’s agenda were postponed until later meetings, with the following resolutions postponed until the May 6 meeting:

PCR-9-19 A Resolution requesting that the Rhode Island Airport Corporation Consider Additional factors in its 2019 14 CFR Part 150 Noise Study.  

PCR-21-19 A Resolution relative to Educational Outreach Committee

PCR-42-19 – Resolution to the General Assembly in Support of Amendments to the Sewer Authority Enabling Act to Add 2 Board Members, Financing Terms and Septic Systems