Cranston City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
08 ZONING DISTRICTS DESIGNATED
§ 17.08.010 Zoning districts.
This zoning chapter divides the city into zoning use districts, which include overlay districts and floating zone districts. Regulations and standards are set forth for each land use, type of development or type of building or structure within each district. Zoning use districts are depicted by type and location on the zoning map.
For the purposes of this chapter, the city is divided into the following districts:
Districts | Intended Primarily for the Use of |
|---|---|
Residential A-80 | Single-family dwellings on lots of minimum areas of 80,000 square feet. |
Residential A-20 | Single-family dwellings on lots of minimum areas of 20,000 square feet. |
Residential A-12 | Single-family dwellings on lots of minimum areas of 12,000 square feet. |
Residential A-8 | Single-family dwellings on lots of minimum areas of 8,000 square feet. |
Residential A-6 | Single-family dwellings on lots of minimum areas of 6,000 square feet. |
Residential B-1 | Single-family dwellings on lots of minimum areas of 6,000 square feet and two-family dwellings on lots of minimum areas of 8,000 square feet. |
Residential B-2 | Single-family dwellings on lots of minimum areas of 6,000 square feet, two-family dwellings on lots of minimum areas of 8,000 square feet, and multi-family dwellings (see formula in Section 17.20.090). |
Commercial C-1 | Office business. |
Commercial C-2 | Neighborhood business. |
Commercial C-3 | General business. |
Commercial C-4 | Highway business. |
Commercial C-5 | Heavy business, industry. |
Industrial M-l | Restricted industry. |
Industrial M-2 | General industry. |
Open space S-1 | Uses containing high proportion of open space or natural character. |
Educational Institution EI | Educational institutions and schools. |
Government G | Government building or institution. |
Planned districts | Uses in buildings arranged in an efficient, harmonious and convenient manner. |
The descriptions above of the primary uses within each district are intended for the purposes of summary only. Reference should be made to the detailed use provisions hereinafter set forth.
For the purposes of reference, the above districts may be referred to by symbols, excluding the terms "residential", "commercial," "industrial" or "open space."
For the purposes of reference, the above districts may be referred to in this chapter as members of a class of districts in the following manner:
Residential districts refer to all of the following districts | A-80, A-20, A-12, A-8, A-6, B-1 and B-2 |
Commercial districts refer to all of the following districts | C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4 and C-5 |
Industrial districts refer to all the following districts | M-1 and M-2 |
Open space district | S-1 |
Institutional districts refer to all the following districts | EI and G |
(Prior code § 30-4; Ord. 2026-2, 1/20/2026)
§ 17.08.020 District boundaries.
A.
Zoning Maps. The boundaries of zoning use districts are hereby established in a spatial database as part of Cranston's geographic information system (GIS) and shown on the maps entitled, "Zoning, City of Cranston, Rhode Island", adopted on [DATE OF ADOPTION BY CITY COUNCIL TO BE INSERTED] and as most recently amended (ZONING MAP), which are adopted as part of this chapter and which are on file in the office of the city clerk. All explanatory matter thereon is made part of this chapter.
B.
Amendments to Zoning Map.
1.
The zoning map and GIS database shall be updated within thirty (30) days of the following activities:
a.
City council adoption of an amendment to zoning in accordance with Chapter 17.120. The GIS database shall contain the latest ordinance number of the approved change.
b.
Discovery of errors in the GIS zoning data, after notification to the city council.
2.
Updated zoning map shall be electronically created in a widely accepted digital format and a paper copy shall be printed. Said documents shall be stored in the office of the city clerk.
C.
Annual Zoning Map.
1.
At the time the annual assessor maps are issued, an updated zoning map and GIS database shall be electronically created in a widely accepted digital format and a paper copy shall be printed. Said documents shall be stored in the office of the city clerk.
2.
Each annual issuance of the zoning map shall reflect changes originating from:
a.
City council adoption of an amendment to zoning in accordance with Chapter 17.120.
b.
Discovery of errors in the GIS zoning data.
c.
Parcel configuration changes or error corrections that have occurred on the assessor maps, including subdivisions and merges.
3.
A listing of the corrections and amendments required by subsection (a) and (b) above shall be submitted to the city clerk annually with the zoning map. Notable error corrections required by subsection c above shall also be included.
D.
Public Rights-of-Way. Public rights-of-way and streets shall not have a zone and shall be attributed in the GIS database with a zone of "none". Whenever any public right-of-way or street is abandoned by official action, the zoning district adjoining the said right-of-way or street shall be automatically extended to the new property line resulting from such abandonment. All area included in the abandonment shall thereafter be subject to all appropriate regulations of the extended district.
E.
Property Lines. When the boundary lines are shown approximately on the location of the existing property or lot lines and the exact location of the zoning boundaries is not indicated by means of figures, distance or otherwise, the property or lot lines shall be the zoning boundary line.
F.
Shorelines and Center Lines. Boundaries indicated as following shorelines shall be construed to follow the boundary lines of the jurisdiction of the city; boundaries indicated as approximately following the center line of a creek, river, public utility or railroad right-of-way shall be construed to follow such center lines.
G.
Other Boundaries. Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features indicated in subsections D and E above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the zoning map shall be determined by the scale of the map.
H.
Determination. Where the exact location of a boundary line cannot be determined under the subsections D, E and F above, the location of such line shall be determined by the inspector of buildings.
I.
To verify the zoning status of a property, an individual may obtain a certified copy of a hard copy of the zoning map from the city clerk. Certified copies shall be signed by the city clerk, shall include the date on which the copy was issued and shall be provided with a graphic scale, measurable when printed.
J.
Uncertified copies of the digital zoning layer may be provided for informational purposes only.
(Prior code § 30-5; Ord. 2016-39, § 1, 11/28/2016)