(a)  Town and city councils may, from time to time, make and ordain all ordinances and regulations for their respective towns and cities, not repugnant to law, which they deem necessary for the safety of their inhabitants from fire, firearms, and fireworks; to prevent persons standing on any footwalk, sidewalk, doorstep, or in any doorway, or riding, driving, fastening, or leaving any horse or other animal or any carriage, team, or other vehicle on any footwalk, sidewalk, doorstep, or doorway within the town or city, to the obstruction, hindrance, delay, disturbance, or annoyance of passersby or of persons residing or doing business in this vicinity; to regulate the putting up and maintenance of telegraph and other wires and their appurtenances; to prevent the indecent exposure of any one bathing in any of the waters within their respective towns and cities; against breakers of the Sabbath; against habitual drunkenness; respecting the purchase and sale of merchandise or commodities within their respective towns and cities; to protect burial grounds and the graves in these burial grounds from trespassers; and, generally, all other ordinances, regulations and bylaws for the well ordering, managing, and directing of the prudential affairs and police of their respective towns and cities, not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this state, or of the United States.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 45-6-1

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
  • United States: include the several states and the territories of the United States. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-8

(b)  Town and city councils shall furnish to their senators and representatives, upon request and at no charge, copies and updates of all ordinances and regulations.

(c)  In lieu of newspaper publication, advance notice of proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of any ordinance or regulation by a municipality may be provided via electronic media on a website maintained by the office of the secretary of state.

History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 21; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 22; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 22; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 22; G.L. 1956, § 45-6-1; P.L. 1989, ch. 417, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 65, art. 57, § 6; P.L. 1992, ch. 488, § 5; P.L. 1999, ch. 354, § 42; P.L. 2008, ch. 9, art. 18, § 2.