How Does the Rhode Island Municipal Court Work?

Rhode Island Municipal Courts have authority over most municipal ordinance violations within their territorial jurisdictions. The courts may hear cases involving traffic violations and exercise exclusive jurisdiction over several traffic cases. Municipal Courts also share jurisdiction over some of these cases with the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal. However, regardless of jurisdictional similarities, Rhode Island Municipal Courts may not hear cases that fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of a Traffic Tribunal. All Municipal Courts are courts of record.

Municipal Courts may also hear cases on the zoning ordinance or local housing violations; and animal ordinance violations. In some cases, parking permits are also the responsibility of Municipal Courts. For instance, the City of Providence’s Municipal Court issues permits for the city’s Overnight Parking Permit Program and receives fees for the permits. It also collects and adjudicates fines resulting from related violations.

Generally, the Rhode Island statutes allow some authority in handling municipal ordinance violations related to housing. Concerning these violations, Rhode Island Municipal Courts may:

• Order the vacation, demolition, or repair of any building in violation of an ordinance
• Enjoin, correct, prevent, or restrain a municipal ordinance
• Enforce compliance of all provisions of the statutes and ordinances within its jurisdiction

Generally, Municipal Courts may also do one or all of the following:

• Punish persons for contempt
• Administer oaths
• Compel the attendance of case witnesses
• Execute and authorize search warrants with the same authority exercisable by a District Court justice

Apart from convictions for minimum housing ordinances or violations of the provisions available in the Rhode Island Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code, all defendants may appeal Municipal Court decisions. 

The Rhode Island Judicial System allows persons to appeal these rulings to the Rhode Island Superior Court with jurisdiction over the case. At the Superior Court, the defendant is entitled to a trial de novo. This is a new trial where the court reviews all law issues and facts of the case as if there was no prior trial. For violations of minimum housing ordinances or the Rhode Island Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code, the defendant may file an appeal to the Second Division of the District Court. The defendant will also be entitled to a trial de novo. 

The Second Division is located at:

Murray Judicial Complex
2nd Division District Court
45 Washington Square
Newport, RI 02840–2913
Phone: (401) 841–8350

Note that appellants must file all appeals within seven days of the Municipal Court’s conviction, regardless of the violation or the receiving court.

Each Municipal Court has seven judicial officers. These include one auxiliary judge, four associate judges, one senior associate judge, and one chief judge. Municipal Court judges are appointed by the city or town councils.

The chief judge exercises supervisory and administrative authority over court affairs. For a Municipal Court in a Rhode Island town, the town council has the authority to choose a judge. Where the Municipal Court has jurisdiction over a city, selecting a judge is the city council’s responsibility. Both town and city councils are empowered to create ordinances that should govern the court’s affairs. These may include personal, procedure, operations, and a schedule of fees and costs. Note that the authority required to appoint a Municipal Court judge lies with the mayor of the city in some cases. However, the mayor must seek the advice and consent of the town or city council.

Each judge shall serve for a two-year term, starting from the date the first judge is appointed by the city or town council. The judges’ terms also run concurrently with the city or town council’s term of office. 

An appointed judge must be a licensed lawyer admitted to practice law in the state. The judge must also be in good standing and have a minimum of two years of active law practice experience.

Generally, Municipal Court sentences may not be more than a jail term of 30 days, a maximum fine of $500 or both. However, if the violation constitutes a danger to public safety, health, or welfare, the Municipal Court may impose a fine worth at least half of the total accrued fines. 

Persons interested in Municipal Court records may visit the court or send written requests. Ensure that the request contains details on the desired record and the requestor’s contact information. 

To visit or contact a Rhode Island Municipal Court, use the information provided below:

Bristol County 
Bristol Municipal Court
Burnside Memorial Building
400 Hope Street
Bristol, RI 02809
Phone: (401)253–7000

Warren Municipal Court 
Town Hall
514 Main Street
Warren, RI 02885
Phone: (401)289–0630

Kent County
Coventry Municipal Court
1670 Flat River Road
Coventry, RI 02816
Phone: (401) 822–9187

East Greenwich Municipal Court
125 Main Street
East Greenwich, RI 02818
Phone: (401) 886–3212

Warwick Municipal Court
3275 Post Road
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: (401) 738–2000 ext. 6213

West Warwick Municipal Court
1170 Main Street
West Warwick, RI 02893
Phone: (401) 822–9201

Newport County 
Middletown Municipal Court
350 East Main Road
1st Floor
Middletown, RI 02842
Phone: (401) 847–0009

Newport Municipal Court
43 Broadway
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (401) 845–5410

Tiverton Municipal Court
343 Highland Road
Tiverton, RI 02878
Phone: (401) 625–6720

Providence County 
Burrillville Municipal Court
1477 Victory Highway, PO Box 419
Burrillville, RI 02830
Phone: (401) 568–9494 ext. 1

Central Falls Municipal Court
580 Broad Street
Central Falls, RI 02863
Phone: (401) 616–2557

Cranston Municipal Court
5 Garfield Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 477–5010

Cumberland Municipal Court
45 Broad Street
Cumberland, RI 02864
Phone: (401) 728–2400 ext. 154

East Providence Municipal Court
145 Taunton Avenue
East Providence, RI 02914
Phone: (401)435–7540 Ext. 11040

Johnston Municipal Court
1600 Atwood Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919
Phone: (401) 946–7150

Lincoln Municipal Court
100 Old River Road
Lincoln, RI 02865
Phone: (401)333–8453

North Providence Town Hall
2000 Smith Street
North Providence, RI 02911
Phone: (401) 231–4533 ext. 139

North Smithfield Municipal Court
575 Smithfield Road
North Smithfield, RI 02896
Phone: (401) 356–0564

Pawtucket Police Department
121 Roosevelt Avenue
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Phone: (401) 727–9100

Providence Municipal Court
325 Washington Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 243–6414

Woonsocket Municipal Court
169 Main Street
Woonsocket, RI 02895
Phone: (401) 762–6400

Washington County
Hopkinton Municipal Court
1 Town House Road
Hopkinton, RI 02833
Phone: (401) 377–7759

Narragansett Municipal Court
25 5th Avenue
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: (401) 782–0655

North Kingstown Municipal Court
100 Fairway Drive
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Phone: (401) 268–1557

Westerly Municipal Court
45 Broad Street
Westerly, RI 02891
Phone: (401) 596–7374