2025-42

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 12.28.100 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Newport, Revision of 1994, as amended, entitled "City piers and docks," is hereby further amended as follows:

12.28.100. City piers and docks.

A. General Rules.
1. Swimming and/or fishing are not allowed from any public floating dock.
2. Swimming and/or fishing are not allowed from any public pier that is so posted.
3. Loading dock use is limited to the posted time restrictions and the vessel must be attended at all times.
4. A loading dock shall not be used as a dinghy dock.
5. A loading dock is not to be used by commercial vessels without prior authorization from the Newport Harbormaster.
6. The judgment of suitability and adequate water depth for use by any vessel is the responsibility of the operator of the vessel.
7. The harbormaster may remove vessels and dinghies not in working order, deemed unsafe, or not kept in accordance with the regulations set forth in Chapter 12.28 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Newport.

B. Perrotti Park Marine Terminal and Transient Dock.
1. Operated by the City of Newport for marine transportation and related marine uses.
2. Vessel access for the marine terminal dock is restricted to:
a. Vessels engaged in approved permitted ferry service, cruise ship service, and harbor shuttle service, charter vessels and educational vessels.

All vessels must obtain a permit from the Harbormaster's office.

b. Harbormaster and emergency vessels.

c. Cruise ship tenders.

3. Transient Dock

a. Daily/hourly vessel dock rental under the direction of the harbormaster.

b. Dingy dockage on the north side of the floating transient dock.

c. Vessel loading/unloading.

C. Commercial Dock Permit

1. Commercial vessels must obtain a Perrotti Park Commercial Dock Permit before operating from City owned piers. There are two categories of permits. One for commercial dock permits and one for charter dock permits. Permits can be obtained from the Harbormaster's office. Permits are good from May 1st to October 31st. This permit grants operators temporary dockage for loading and unloading passengers only. Vessels must vacate the dock when not engaged in loading and unloading passengers.

a. Shuttle/ferries operating an intermodal transportation program must obtain a Perrotti Park Commercial Dock Permit. These vessels may operate out of Perrotti Park and Ann St. Pier.

b. Pickup/drop off permits are good for Perrotti Park only. This permit is for vessels engaging in charter for hire services.

c. Applicants for both permits must provide a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection (if required), copies of captain's licenses for operators of each vessel in operation, a hold harmless and indemnification agreement in favor of the city and a Certificate of Insurance providing proof of insurance in accordance with the recommendations of the Rhode Island Interlocal Risk Management Trust for the applicant's operations. Businesses for commercial dock permits must provide seasonal ridership numbers to the Harbormaster's office.

d. The price of the permit is $750 with $50 for each additional vessel.

D. Long Wharf Sea Wall.

1. No person shall moor or tie up a boat at or along the sea wall at Long Wharf without being provided permission to do so by the harbormaster and complying with all rules and regulations governing Newport Harbor.

2. All boats moored or tied up at or along the sea wall in violation of this section shall be removed at the direction of the harbormaster.

Those boats not having crew to move them may be moved by the harbormaster, and the expense thereof shall be paid by the owner of the boat so moved.

3. Whoever violates this section shall be subject to the penalties enumerated in Rhode Island General Laws Section 46-4-6.6 or fined in an amount within the jurisdiction of the Newport Municipal Court.

B. Ann Street Pier.

1. Transient dockage for vessels up to forty (40) feet in length overall (LOA), limited to a maximum of forty-eight (48) hours from May 1 through September 30.

a. These restrictions may be waived for special events, limited to no more than three (3) per the time period set forth above and for a maximum of 96 hours, only upon the express permission of the Harbor Master.

2. Dockage for vessels without size or time restrictions from October 1 through April 30 only upon the express permission of the harbormaster.

3. Daily dinghy dockage. No overnight dinghy dockage.

4. Loading dock for harbor shuttles.

B. King Park Stone Pier Dinghy Dock.

1. Vessel access is limited to the floating dock area for use as daily dinghy dockage and landing and overnight dinghy dockage which overnight dinghy dockage is allowed only through a permit issued by the harbormaster.

2. Overnight dinghy dockage is limited to dinghies less than twelve (12) feet and/or other vessels approved by the harbormaster. No kayaks or paddleboards are allowed.

3. Capacity for overnight dockage will be determined by the harbormaster.

4. Outboard engines must be kept in the down position.

5. All dinghies must use a single bow line with a minimum of four feet of slack.

6. All locks must be single cable with a minimum of four feet of slack.

7. Dinghies stored out of the water on the dock must not have an engine and capacity will be determined by the harbormaster.

F. Van Zandt Pier. All vessel access is prohibited, including dinghies.

G. Elm Street Pier. Vessel access is limited to the floating dock area for use as a loading dock only.

HI. West Extension Street Dinghy Dock.

1. Vessel access is limited to the floating dock area for use as daily dinghy dockage and landing and overnight dinghy dockage which overnight dinghy dockage is allowed only through a permit issued by the harbormaster.

2. Dockage is limited to dinghies less than twelve (12) feet. No kayaks or paddleboards are allowed.

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
MAY 14, 2025

Laura C. Swistak, CMO
City Clerk