2025-74 Amending Section 12.28.071, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled, “Mooring permit classification and quotas”

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF TITLE TWELVE OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, REVISION OF 1994, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED, "CITY HARBOR."

BE IT ORDAINED by the City of Newport:

SECTION 1. Chapter 12.28 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Newport, Revision of 1994, as amended, entitled "City Harbor," is hereby further amended as follows:

12.28.071 Mooring permit classification and quotas.

A. Newport Harbor Private Moorings. It is the city's goal to issue and maintain private mooring permits in a manner resulting in a three:one ration of residents (three) to non-residents (one). The ratio would apply to each harbor mooring area and to the harbor as a whole. In no event will the ratio exceed three:one in favor of residents to non-residents for the entire harbor.

If at any time, an excess of twenty-five (25) percent of mooring holders are non-residents, then all new mooring permits will be issued in a ratio of eight:one in favor of residents. When the ratio of moorings shall be at or close to the required three:one ratio in favor of residents to non-residents, then all new mooring permits shall be issued in a manner to maintain the three:one ratio in favor of residents over non-residents and to avoid exceeding this ratio in favor of residents over non-residents.

B. Newport Harbor Rental Moorings.

1. Permits for rental mooring spaces shall be limited to the Newport inner harbor mooring areas.
2. Permits issued to a business, trust, corporation, partnership, or Yacht Club shall fall under this category.
3. It is the city's goal to allow only a maximum of twenty-five (25) percent of the total mooring spaces subject to permits as available for rental mooring permits in each designated harbor mooring area and in the harbor as a whole. New rental mooring permits will not be issued if any of these percentages has been exceeded.
4. No individual or company shall own permits for more than fifty (50) percent of the

5. Forty (40) of the rental mooring permits shall be designated and permitted as transient rental moorings.

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6. All rental mooring permit holders must carry business liability insurance. Business liability insurance certificates must be provided annually at the time of an annual mooring permit renewal. The City of Newport, R.I. shall be named as additional insured. Liability limits must be minimum of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence and two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) aggregate.

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6. All rental mooring permit holders must carry marine liability insurance covering the use of their mooring. Certificates of insurance must be provided annually at the time of an annual mooring permit renewal. The City of Newport, R.I. shall be named as an additional insured. Liability limits must be a minimum of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence and two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) aggregate. The requirement to submit certificates of insurance at the time of the annual rental mooring permit renewal for the 2026 year only, which are due on or before November 15, 2025, shall be extended to February 28, 2026.

Those permit holders of rental moorings for which the permit holder engages a mooring business to manage, maintain or rent the same to the public, may comply with the above insurance requirements by providing proof of insurance at the above minimum limits from the mooring business which names both the mooring permit holder and the City of Newport as an additional insured for said coverage.

SECTION 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

IN COUNCIL
READ AND PASSED
DECEMBER 10, 2025

Laura C. Swistak, CMC

City Clerk