EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – On Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 the East Providence City Council unanimously approved several modifications to the City’s Zoning Ordinance that were required to conform to land use bills approved by the RI General Assembly in 2024. These changes were made in order to promote housing opportunities.
The most notable of these changes for East Providence residents is the adoption of new zoning regulations that allow for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s). These units are accessory to existing dwelling units and may be located either completely inside an existing home, attached to an existing home, or may be part of a separate structure. Per state law, ADU’s are not required to be limited to family members. Short term rentals of these units are prohibited.
“I am very pleased that the East Providence City Council supported and unanimously passed the zoning modifications that were proposed and recommended by our Planning Department,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “The ordinance brought us into compliance with state law, but the most important aspect of the ordinance was allowing ADU’s on residential properties.”
State law does not require a minimum lot size for ADU’s that are entirely within the footprint of an existing residential structure, or that are used by family members with disabilities. However, the law permits a detached ADU on lots of 20,000 square feet or greater as a matter of right. One of the major differences between the state law and the approved local ordinance is that a minimum lot size of only 5,000 square feet is required for construction of a detached unit. In a dense community like East Providence, this opens up this option for more homeowners.
“The City’s ordinance originally proposed a minimum lot size of 7,500 square feet to build a detached ADU, but I am grateful to the entire East Providence City Council under the leadership of President Bob Rodericks and Vice President Frank Rego had the foresight and vision to see the benefits of reducing the size to 5,000 square feet, creating more opportunities for the residents of East Providence to have accessible and affordable housing stock,” DaSilva added.
“With this 5,000-square-foot zoning ordinance, it helps assure that older generations of residents can maintain their homes and live in the city they cherish,” Council Vice President Frank Rego said. “It also helps bring in new generations of residents to the city to ensure the city continues to prosper in the same way it always has,” Rego added.
Currently, Rhode Island’s housing crisis is burdening local residents and is negatively impacting the economy. In East Providence, 50 percent of renters are considered “cost burdened”, and the state as a whole is last in housing construction per capita. The City of East Providence’s new zoning modifications will now help create opportunities to add housing stock with minimal neighborhood impact, benefiting both owners and renters of various age groups.
ADU’s must still meet all other relevant zoning, building and fire codes. For questions related to whether an ADU is possible on your property, please contact the City’s Zoning Division at 401-435-7722 ext 1 or the City’s Building Inspection Division at 401-435-7722.
