Frequently Asked Questions

To find out what zone you are in, you can access our WebGIS and search by address, parcel number, or owner. 

Dimensional requirements refer to specific standards and regulations that dictate how a piece of land or property can be used, developed, or built upon.

Dimensional requirements for each zone can be found in Article IV: District Intensity Regulations, Section B: Land Space Requirements Table.

If your lot is substandard, your lot will have modified dimensional requirements based on the lot size and minimum lot size for the zone that it is in. If your lot is substandard for the zone but the lot size fits into another zone that meets the requirements, use the dimensions for that zone (for example, a lot with 15,000 square feet in a R-20 zone would use the R-10 zone dimensional requirements). 

To calculate your modified dimensional requirements use the Dimensional Requirements Calculator for Substandard Lots below.

If you need a Dimensional Variance or a Special Use Permit, you may need to apply to the Zoning Board of Review.

Please contact the Zoning Enforcement Officer for more information.

A zoning certificate is an official document issued by the zoning official that verifies whether a specific property complies with the zoning regulations applicable to its location. It serves as proof that the current or proposed use of the property, as well as any structures on it, meets the requirements set forth in the local zoning ordinance.

Fill out the Zoning Certificate Application on the OpenGov portal.

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is defined as a secondary living unit that is subordinate to and located on the same lot as a primary single-family dwelling. ADUs are designed to provide additional housing options within existing residential neighborhoods while maintaining compatibility with the surrounding community.

Rhode Island recently passed legislation requiring municipalities that allow ADUs to follow specific regulations. Please refer to the ADU Summarized Regulations.  

The town adopted an ordinance on September 8, 1980 pertaining to yard sales. The following pieces of information are what you need to know to comply with the law:

• It is unlawful to conduct a yard sale without first obtaining a permit issued by the Portsmouth Police Department.
• All signs must be taken down immediately at the conclusion of the yard sale. Littering fines may be assessed for old signs.
• No person may conduct, or allow to be conducted upon their property, a yard sale more often than twice per year.
• No yard sale for which a permit has been granted may last more than two days.
• No yard sale may begin earlier than 8 a.m. or end later than 6 p.m.
• PLEASE NOTE, the Portsmouth Zoning Ordinance Article IX, section 7(a), prohibits all off-premises signs (except those allowed by Special Use Permit from the Zoning Board of Review).

You (or your neighbor) can put up a fence on the property line without a building permit. There is a 6' height limit to the fence. Any fence higher than 6' requires a building permit.

Disputes involving fences (as well as property lines, trees, or bushes) between neighbors are a private matter. The municipality does not have jurisdiction interfere in these matters. Portsmouth has an appointed Fence Viewer to help resolve these issues.

Do I have to have a fence around my swimming pool?  Do I need to get a building permit for it?

The state building code defines a swimming pool as any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that is over 24-inches deep. 

Fences are of at least 48'' are required, unless the pool is equipped with a complying lockable safety cover.

Depending on the size of the pool and the size of your lot, you may also need a building permit or something more. Please call the building department at 401-683-3611 to find out.

Flood zone mapping can be accessed through the town's GIS. Click the "Layers" icon then check the "Flood Zones Group" box.