*This page was last updated on 4/7/2021 at 12:00 PM*
Below is a list of operational changes that will help maintain the health and safety of Providence residents and employees while minimizing the disruption to city services. The operational changes will go into effect at 12:01 AM on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, and will be in place until further notice, pending additional guidance from State and Federal Health officials. This page will be updated as additional services are added or services are restored or altered.
In-person city services will be available Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with the exception of the Department of Public Works providing counter service from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM on operational (Monday-Thursday) days.
City buildings are currently closed on Fridays. On operational days, each department will be staffed up to 50% capacity to comply with social distancing guidelines. Visitors will also be asked to observe the guidelines below to protect the health and safety of staff and visitors.
- Upon arrival to city buildings, all staff and visitors will be asked screening questions and have their temperature taken before entering the building. Additionally, visitors will be asked for their name and destination within city buildings to aid in contact tracing.
- Face masks are required and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building. Measures such as traffic flow indicators, plexiglass barriers, and specific entry and exit points have been specified to support social distancing best practices.
- Residents should continue to use remote and online city services as much as possible to limit exposure when possible.
The public should use the following entrances when conducting business at the buildings listed below:
Providence City Hall
- The visitor’s entrance is now located at the back of the building on Eddy Street. Visitors should enter through the green ADA-accessible door.
- Documents can also be submitted via drop-boxes located at City Hall, accessible through Eddy Street. Drop-boxes will be checked twice a week, so processing may be delayed.
444 Westminster Street
- The visitor’s entrance is located through the courtyard between this building and the Roger Williams University building. The ADA accessible entrance can be found on the other side of the building through the Greene Street parking lot.
- Documents can also be submitted via drop-boxes at the Doorley Municipal Building (444 Westminster Street), accessible through Greene Street. Drop-boxes will be checked twice a week, so processing may be delayed.
Public Works
- Staff and Visitors enter through the main door of the Public Works complex at 700 Allens Ave.
- Public Safety Complex. The visitor’s entrance continues to be the main entrance accessible on Washington Street.
For information on Providence test sites and how to get tested, click here
Fully Operational
As part of the temporary modifications, the following city services and offices will remain FULLY OPERATIONAL:
- All emergency services including Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services,
- Animal Control will continue regular operations (for life safety matters only)
- The City’s contracted curbside trash and recycling collection will continue as regularly scheduled. Please note this does not include privately contracted dumpsters.
- Mayor’s Center for City Services will continue to take calls from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday, and will continue to address concerns submitted through the PVD311 app or website.
- Licensing will continue to receive documents online or through the mail.
- New licenses and renewals can be applied for online via Viewpoint.
- New licenses will not be issued and all food, entertainment, and liquor licenses and licensing violation hearings will not be held until further notice.
- Email licensing@providenceri.gov if you have any questions.
- As the City of Providence recognizes the severe economic burden placed upon our restaurants and similar establishments holding liquor licenses, no action will be taken against licensees who suspend or cancel liquor liability insurance during this emergency.
- Please contact your insurance carrier for information on the suspension or cancellation of your liquor liability insurance in order to ensure that you can reinstitute the required insurance when the crisis has subsided and you are permitted to return to regular operation.
- Please note that no business will be permitted to resume the service of alcohol on the premises without liquor liability insurance in place.
Operational with Limitations
The following city services and offices will REMAIN OPERATIONAL WITH LIMITATIONS:
- The Roger Williams Park Botanical Center Carousel, and Museum of Natural History are open on a limited basis and following recommended sanitation and social distancing guidelines.
- All outdoor athletic fields, courts, and other sports facilities are open and available for organized youth and adult sports activities following social distancing guidelines, current group size restrictions in accordance with RIDEM and approved permits.
- Playgrounds will be open for public use but are not staffed. All visitors are asked to follow the social distancing and hygiene recommendations on park signage.
- Users should sanitize hands before and after play and not share equipment.
- Users waiting to utilize a section or area of the field should wait outside the field of play until previous users have vacated to ensure proper social distancing.
- North Burial Ground is open to the public seven days a week from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Guests must observe social distancing guidelines and group sizes must not exceed current guidelines for social gatherings.
- City planning applications, licensing, and permit reviews, including building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical, will require residents and businesses to use online and email tools for submission of materials and payment. In cases where this is not possible, documents can be dropped off at specified times or submitted through the drop-box located at the back entrance of 444 Westminster Street (accessible by the parking lot on Greene St)
- The Inspections of buildings and other infrastructure will continue as regularly scheduled.
- Tax Collection will be accessible online, by phone, or by mail. Mailed payments should include quarterly coupons and a personal check, certified check, or money order payable to the City of Providence.* We urge you to conduct business via email to Collector@providenceri.gov or by phone to 331-5252, but there will be reduced staff in-house every day, so wait times may be long.
- The Recorder of Deeds maintains an on-line database of land evidence documents from August 1, 2004, to the present. Documents for the Recorder of Deeds can be electronically recorded through www.providenceri.gov/deeds for larger volume recorders, or through USPS, FedEx, or UPS. Documents can be delivered in person to room 506 for recording Mon-Thu up to 3:30 pm sharp.
- Research prior to August 1, 2004 can be searched by appointment in person. Go to www.providenceri.gov/deeds to make an appointment. Documents after that time can be searched online through the same webpage.
- E-recording – Providence accepts electronic document recording (eRecording) through CSC and Simplifile. A computer, scanner, internet connection and an account with an e-Recording entity are needed for e-Recording.
- Tax Assessment services will be accessible online. Time-sensitive documents, such as homestead exemption applications, are available online and can be mailed to City Hall or emailed to assessor@providenceri.gov and will continue to be processed.
- Vital Records will continue to receive documents for death certificates through the mail or using the City Hall drop-box located on Eddy Street. Birth, marriage, and death certificates can be requested online and will be provided through the mail.
- Providence residents who have all the required documentation can apply here for a marriage license. Staff will review the application 1 to 2 weeks after submission.
- In addition, the State Department of Health has a dropbox for the Center of Vital Records. It is available Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. Certificates can also be mailed to the Center for Vital Records, 3 Capitol Hill Room 101, Providence, RI 02908. If you have any questions, please contact William Lyons, Death Registration Manager at 401-222-2804, or by email William.Lyons@health.ri.gov or Zuheil Figueroa-Lugo, Registration Manager at 401-222-4717 or by email Zuheil.FigueroaLugo@health.ri.gov.
- Commission of Human Relations complaint intake will be accessible online only.
- Public meetings that are non-essential will be postponed until further notice, per the Governor’s Executive Order, and all essential meetings are encouraged to happen online or by phone as specified.
- All Finance and budget functions essential to core city operations and payroll will continue.
- Special Event Permits – Individuals and businesses may apply for special events permits online here. Film permits will be issued starting August 1, 2020.
The following city services and offices or buildings WILL BE CLOSED OR SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
- The Providence Municipal Court has ceased arraignments and hearings until further notice. Call (401) 243-6414 or visit the Municipal Court’s website for more information.
- netWORKri Career Center – Although netWORKri is currently closed, we are still booking virtual appointments for workforce training.
- Providence Port and Harbor – The Providence port and harbor are also closed to all commercial cruise line passenger vessels of all sizes and capacities and disembarkation is prohibited at any public or private facility within the city.
This is a rapidly changing situation. As the state’s recommendations to combat the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 evolves, the City of Providence will continue to evaluate the need to make additional changes to city services and operations. For more information on COVID-19 and best practices you can share, residents can visit our website, call to connect to the Mayor’s Center for City Services by dialing 3-1-1, visiting www.PVD311.com, or downloading the PVD311 mobile app on your smartphone for 24/7 access.
Residents can register to receive CodeRED emergency notifications by phone, email, text, and/or mobile alerts for the latest updates from the City and to reach out to the Rhode Island Department of Health’s COVID-19 Assistance Line at 401-222-8022 Monday through Friday during regular business hours should they have additional questions. Please note that there may be slight delays in carrying out these operations due to reduced staffing or helping address pandemic-related issues.