[Amended 10-14-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-22]
It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector and the Zoning Enforcement Officer ("ZEO") to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter as such provisions may be assigned to them in their respective capacities, by this chapter or by law, as may be amended.
[Amended 10-14-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-22]
A. 
Qualifications. The qualifications of the Building Inspector are set forth in Chapter 27.3 of Title 23 of the Rhode Island General Laws.
B. 
Duties. The duties of the Building Inspector are set forth in Chapter 27.3 of Title 23 of the Rhode Island General Laws. In addition, and to the extent that there is no conflict with the Rhode Island General Laws, the following are additional duties of the Building Inspector:
(1) 
Order that any illegal work in progress be discontinued or cease;
(2) 
Take other action authorized by this chapter, state law or are otherwise lawfully delegated to the Building Inspector to ensure compliance with or to prevent violation(s) of this chapter, state building code or state law, including but not limited to the issuance of and action on building permits, zoning and occupancy certificates and similar administrative duties as are permitted or authorized by state law or ordinance not inconsistent with state law;
(3) 
Collect required fees and fines for violations of this chapter; and pay all funds received over to the Town's finance department at the direction of the Finance Director;
(4) 
Keep records that demonstrate the compliance of uses of land and in connection with the performance of their duties as Building Inspector;
(5) 
Inspect suspected and/or credibly reported violations of state building code and the Code where required; and
(6) 
Perform other duties and exercise other powers as are authorized by this chapter, law or are otherwise lawfully delegated to the Building Inspector.
[Added 10-14-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-22]
The Director of the Department of Planning and Development shall be the ZEO.
A. 
Qualifications. The minimum qualifications of the ZEO shall be the ability to intelligently interpret this chapter and to enforce the chapter in an effective, firm and tactful manner, and to carry out such other related duties as may be required by law.
B. 
Duties. The ZEO has authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter, which includes performance of the following duties:
(1) 
Order the correction of any violation of this chapter;
(2) 
Order that the illegal uses of land, buildings or structures be discontinued or cease;
(3) 
Order the removal of illegal buildings, structures, illegal additions, and/or structural alterations;
(4) 
Order that any illegal work in progress be discontinued or cease;
(5) 
Interpret the zoning ordinances of the Town and this chapter; and opine thereon on behalf of the Town in their official capacity as ZEO;
(6) 
In accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-54, upon written request, issue a zoning certificate or provide guidance, clarification and/or information to a requesting party;
(7) 
Research, drafting, and signing of and in connection with zoning certificates;
(8) 
Research, drafting, and signing of and in connection with modification permit;
(9) 
Inspect suspected and/or credibly reported Code violations;
(10) 
Research, perform site inspections, drafting and signing in connection with zoning enforcement documents, including but not limited to Notice of Orders ("NOO") and Notice of Violations ("NOV");
(11) 
Keep records in connection with the performance of their duties as ZEO;
(12) 
Collect fees and fines for enforcement of this chapter or law; and pay all funds received over to the Town's finance department at the direction of the Finance Director; and
(13) 
Perform other duties and exercise other powers as are authorized by this chapter, law or are otherwise lawfully delegated to the ZEO.
C. 
Delegation of duties. The ZEO may delegate to one or more subordinates ("Designee"), such as a Zoning Clerk or Special Duties Clerk, all or a portion of their duties under this chapter so long as the Designee works at the direction of the ZEO, is responsible to the ZEO and is qualified to perform such delegated duties as to the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. It shall be the responsibility of the ZEO to ensure that their Designee is qualified, trained and supervised by them.
[Amended 3-25-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-05]
A. 
No building, structure or land shall be erected, enlarged, relocated, structurally altered or used in whole or in part, until a zoning certificate is issued stating that the proposed use conforms to the requirements of this chapter, unless the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer receives a written order in the form of an administrative appeal, a variance, special use permit or modification as provided by this chapter.
B. 
Any change of use or tenant in a commercial or industrial building structure or land shall require the issuance of a zoning certificate.
A. 
An application for a zoning certificate shall be accompanied by:
(1) 
A site plan, accurately drawn, showing the actual shape and dimensions of the lot to be built upon;
(2) 
The exact location and size of all existing buildings and structures and all buildings or structures to be erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered or enlarged;
(3) 
The location of all zoning district boundary lines as they may affect the lot or premises;
(4) 
The location and size of off-street parking and loading facilities where required; and
(5) 
Such other information as may be necessary to provide for the enforcement of this chapter. The zoning certificate shall be issued on the basis of the application and accompanying plans and shall authorize only the use, arrangement and construction set forth in approved plans and applications. Any use, arrangement or construction at variance with that authorized under this chapter shall be deemed in violation of this chapter. No site plan shall be required with an application for a zoning certificate involving only alterations of an existing building where the use and exterior surfaces of such buildings are not changed or enlarged in any manner and the use is not affected by any other section of this chapter. A record of all applications, plans and certificates shall be kept on file in the office of the Building Inspector and shall be available for public inspection during regular office hours. One copy of the plans shall be returned to the applicant by the Building Inspector after each copy is marked as either as approved or disapproved and attested to by the signature of the Building Inspector on such copy. The original, similarly marked, shall be retained by the Building Inspector as a Town record.
B. 
The Building Inspector, or the Zoning Enforcement Officer, or an assistant shall have the right of entry to such building or structure for the proper performance of his/her duties.
C. 
The Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall not issue a building permit until a zoning certificate has been issued.
The Building Inspector shall publish weekly a list of all zoning certificates issued in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town. Such list shall show the zoning certificates issued during the proceeding week, and shall specify the applicant, assessor's plat and lot, street name and proposed use.
The issuance of a zoning certificate shall in no way relieve the applicant of the responsibility of obtaining such permits or approvals as may be required under the provisions of other codes, regulations and ordinances, whether federal, state or Town, relating to the use, erection, alteration or modification of a building or structure or to the use or subdivision of land. However, all other permits or approvals shall conform to this chapter.
Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the completion of any development for which a valid building permit has been issued except that such development shall be initiated within three months after the adoption of this chapter and shall be completed within two years after such adoption. Where such a valid building permit exists, no zoning certificate shall be required.
[Amended 3-25-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-05]
A. 
Any application for development under the provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to an application for a building permit, special use permit, or variance, is deemed substantially complete when all required documents, including but not limited to plans, together with payment of all required fees, have been received by the official designated by Code or regulation to receive such applications. Required documents shall include only those documents specified either by ordinance (this ordinance or any other applicable ordinance), Code provision, or rule adopted and published by the permitting authority prior to the time the application is filed.
B. 
Any application for development under this ordinance and the Subdivision and Land Development Regulations, including an application for a land development project or subdivision or for development plan review, is deemed substantially complete when issued a certificate of completeness, as defined in Article II of the Subdivision and Land Development Regulations.
For minor land development and minor subdivision projects and for development plan review, an application is vested when a certificate of completeness is issued at the preliminary plan phase.
For major land development and major subdivision projects, an application is vested when a certificate of completeness is issued at the master plan phase.
C. 
Any application for development under this chapter that is substantially complete prior to the enactment or amendment of this chapter shall be reviewed according to the regulations applicable in the zoning ordinance in full force and effect at the time the application was submitted.
D. 
If an application for development under the provisions of this section is approved, the applicant must begin development or exercise the right granted in the approval within one (1) year of the date of approval, and shall be substantially completed within two (2) years of the date of approval. Any application for development that is governed by the Subdivision and Land Development Regulations shall adhere to the provisions of such approval and this section shall not apply.
[Amended 3-25-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-05]
A. 
The Zoning Enforcement Officer is authorized to grant modification permits under this chapter. Modification permits may be for modifications or adjustments from the literal dimensional requirements of this chapter. The modification shall not exceed 25% of any of the dimensional requirements specified in this chapter. Within ten (10) days of receipt of a request for a modification permit, the Zoning Enforcement Officer shall make written findings as to the suitability of the requested modification permit based on the following determinations:
(1) 
The modification requested is reasonably necessary for the full enjoyment of the permitted use;
(2) 
If the modification is granted, neighboring property will neither be substantially injured nor its appropriate use substantially impaired;
(3) 
The modification requested is in harmony with the purposes and intent of the Comprehensive Plan and this chapter; and
(4) 
The modification requested does not require a variance of a flood hazard requirement.
B. 
Upon an affirmative determination, in the case of a modification of 5% or less, the Zoning Enforcement Officer has the authority to issue a decision approving the modification without any public notice requirements. In the case of a modification of greater than 5%, the Zoning Enforcement Officer shall direct the applicant to notify, by USPS first class mail, all property owners abutting the property which is the subject of the modification request, and shall indicate the street address of the subject property in the notice, and shall publish in a newspaper of local circulation within the Town that the modification will be granted unless written objection is received within fourteen (14) days of the public notice. Costs of any notice required under this subsection shall be borne by the applicant requesting the modification. If written objection is received within fourteen (14) days, the request for a modification shall be scheduled for the next available hearing before the Zoning Board on application for review as a dimensional variance following standards and procedures for such variances, including notice requirements provided under this chapter. If no written objections are received within fourteen (14) days, the Zoning Enforcement Officer shall grant the modification decision.
C. 
The Zoning Enforcement Officer may apply such special conditions to the modification decision as may, in the opinion of the Zoning Enforcement Officer, be required to conform to the intent and purposes of this chapter.
D. 
The Zoning Enforcement Officer shall keep public records of all requests for modifications, and of findings, determinations, special conditions, and any objections received.
E. 
A request for a modification shall require an administrative fee paid to the Town consistent with the schedule of fees maintained in the Planning and Development Department.
A. 
The erection, construction, enlargement, intensification, conversion, moving or maintenance of any building or structure and the use of any land or building or structure which is continued, operated or maintained, contrary to any of the provisions of this chapter, is a violation of this chapter and unlawful.
B. 
Any person, whether as principal, agent, employee or otherwise, who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined an amount reasonably related to the seriousness of the offense, and in any case not more than $500 for each offense. Fines collected shall go into the general fund of the Town.
C. 
Each day of the existence of any such violation shall be deemed a separate offense.
D. 
Upon finding that any of the provisions of this chapter are being violated, the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall notify in writing the person responsible for such violation(s), indicating the nature of the violations, and ordering the action necessary to correct it. Such notice shall contain a date for compliance with said order. The Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall establish the compliance date based upon the amount of time reasonably required to so comply, subject to the following:
(1) 
The maximum time allowed shall be 30 days.
(2) 
The minimum time to be allowed shall be five days unless the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer finds as a fact that the violation constitutes an immediate hazard to the public health, safety, morals and welfare, in which case the minimum time to be allowed shall be 24 hours. If compliance has not been made within the stipulated time period, the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall notify the Town Solicitor or other such legal counsel of the Town of the violation of this chapter. Immediately upon notification of any violation, the Town Solicitor shall institute appropriate action to prevent, enjoin, abate or remove such violation. The remedy provided for herein shall be cumulative and not exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies provided by law.
E. 
The Town may bring suit in the supreme court, the superior court, or any municipal court, including a municipal housing court having jurisdiction, in the name of the Town, to restrain the violation of, or to compel compliance with, the provisions of this chapter. The Town may consolidate an action for injunctive relief and/or fines under this chapter in the Kent County Superior Court.
The Director of the Department of Planning and Development shall be responsible for the maintenance and update of the text and zoning map comprising this chapter. Changes which impact the Zoning Map shall be depicted on the map within 90 days of the authorized change.
[Amended 5-14-2018 by Ord. No. 03-18-321]
A. 
The Town of Coventry shall assess fees for all reasonable costs and expenses associated with processing applications.
B. 
The following fee schedule shall apply for applications filed with the appropriate reviewing authority:
Table 3-1
Type of Project
Fee
A.
Variances and special use permits applied for:
(Note: All costs for stenographic services shall be paid by the applicant.)
1.
Residential additions or alterations under 250 square feet
$145
2.
Residential additions or alternations over 250 square feet or application for residential structure (other than types listed below)
$200
3.
Application for duplex or in-law
$350
4.
Application for multifamily units and condominium projects
$400, plus $20 per unit over 3
5.
Commercial and industrial building up to 5,000 square feet (including additions or alterations)
$500
6.
Commercial and industrial buildings over 5,000 square feet
$750
7.
Administrative variance
$145
8.
Each appeal pursuant to § 255-410B
$200
9.
Zoning amendment
$250
B.
Application for telecommunications tower facility
$1,500
C.
Additional fees may be required to pay for the following studies as deemed appropriate by the Town Council to ascertain potential impact to the environment and adjacent land uses. These studies shall be performed by outside consultants on behalf of the Town.
1.
Traffic
$1,500
2.
Hydrogeologic
$1,500
3.
Hazardous materials
$2,500
4.
Power plant siting
$2,500
5.
Air quality
$1,500
D.
Development plan review
1.
Up to 15,000 square feet under development
$150
2.
15,000 square feet to one acre under development
$350
3.
Each additional acre or portion thereof under development
$100
E.
Appeal from Planning Commission decision
$200
F.
Zoning certificate
$25
C. 
The Zoning Officer shall recover additional costs and expenses by the Town that are incurred due to the actions of the applicant, including (but not limited to) mailing, noticing, police and/or fire details, computer networking, and securing and setting up for locations other than the Town Hall Town Council Chambers.