If you think you‘re being exposed to sound levels that exceed Providence’s legal limits, you probably are — and you should contact city officials to ask them to address the problem.
To report noise you’re hearing right now, CLICK HERE.
Otherwise, scroll down through the city’s convoluted noise-response bureaucracy, starting with the municipal agencies the mayor controls, which are responsible for enforcing local ordinances and state noise laws, and implementing public policies, to try to find the most effective point of contact.1
Providence Police • PVD 311 • City Council • Board of Licenses
The Mayor / Executive Branch
MAYOR BRETT SMILEY — The noise should stop here
E-mail: mayor@providenceri.gov
Mayor‘s office contact page: www.providenceri.gov/mayor/mayors-office-contact-us
Phone: (401) 421-2489
Mayor Smiley’s Twitter account: https://twitter.com/PVDMayor (@PVDMayor)
City of Providence official Twitter account: https://twitter.com/CityofProv (@CityofProv)
The mayor is Providence’s chief executive officer and is responsible for making sure the city implements its laws and policies — including noise limits. Mayor Smiley’s 2022 election campaign emphasized the need to reduce excessive and unhealthy noise in the city, and voters elected him at least partly on that basis. Thus, residents should hold him accountable for noise levels in Providence.2
In addition, all of the city’s executive-branch officials and employees answer to the mayor for their response (or lack of response) to the thousands of noise ordinance violations every year — and resident complaints about those infractions.3
So when municipal officials either ignore city noise laws or are ineffective in enforcing them, and the mayor allows that to continue, it means they’re essentially doing what he wants, and he should be judged on the outcome: He’s the boss and can rectify it if he wants to — if he doesn’t, that’s on him.
City Agencies
PROVIDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT — Responsible for enforcing city and state laws that regulate sources of noise
Police Chief: Oscar Perez (appointed by Mayor Smiley) — e-mail: operez@providenceri.gov
Non-Emergency Phone: (401) 272-3121 — Use this number (not 911) to report noise
PVD Police Twitter account: @ProvidenceRIPD
For the record, the Noise Project does not advocate the use of armed police officers to address excessive noise — but successive Providence mayors and City Council members clearly do, because it’s been city policy for decades, and they could change (or even just discuss) it if they wanted to. None of them has introduced the idea of civilian enforcement, much less proposed an ordinance to do so.4
Until the city government implements alternative proposals for reducing excessive sound levels, PVD residents must either endure unhealthy noise or report it to the police.5 Reporting noise doesn’t guarantee it will be addressed effectively, but not reporting it definitely ensures that it won’t be — and that the relatively small number of people who make most of the noise in the city will continue to have impunity to do so, which they inevitably will.
REPORT EXCESSIVE NOISE TO THE POLICE
Call the Providence Police Department’s non-emergency phone number: (401) 272-3121 (not 911). If possible, try to provide the civilian dispatcher with a specific street address for the source of the noise or as close as possible, so the responding officers can find it — and so the location of the source is part of the complaint and any subsequent report.6(We’ve also heard that asking the dispatcher to have patrol officers speak to you on-site may encourage a more thorough response. We are working to verify this.)
If the dispatcher’s response to your report is unsatisfactory, ask to speak to the officer in charge. If you still don’t get a satisfactory response, ask for the officer in charge of the patrol division. If their response is still not satisfactory, call Chief Perez or Deputy Chief Timothy O’Hara during a weekday at (401) 243-6109 or email their secretary at amcginn@providenceri.gov.
Police contacts for reporting more specific noise sources
- District commanders (https://ppd.providenceri.gov/find-your-local-police-station/) — If you have problems with repeat noise offenders, use the linked map to identify which of the city’s nine police districts the noise source is in, then contact the lieutenant in charge of that district to alert them to the recurrent noise location and ask them to address the ongoing problem.
- ATV Community Response Team — A special unit established to tackle illegal off-road vehicles on city streets. If you provide them with a location where ATVs are stored, the police will confiscate them.
Phone: (401) 680-8288 (680-8ATV)
E-mail: ATVtips@ProvidenceRI.gov [We recommend e-mailing them and cc’ing our info@ address]
- License Enforcement Unit — Enforces regulations related to commercial licenses (see Board of Licenses below). According to a police department report, in 2023 the unit addressed 24 violations for entertainment without a license, 21 violations for disturbing the neighborhood, and 12 violations for excessively loud music.
Commander: Sergeant Vincent Sollitto
E-mail: vsollitto@ProvidenceRI.gov
- Community Engagement Bureau — That title was changed from “Relations” to “Engagement” under Mayor Smiley. It’s not clear how this affected its role or scope under his administration.
Webpage: https://www.providenceri.gov/police/community-relations/
E-mail: communityrelations@ProvidenceRI.gov
Phone: (401) 680-5320
Director: Michael Stephens (retained by Mayor Smiley from the Elorza administration)
It’s worth noting that Providence Police often tout (and are touted by others for) a law-enforcement strategy known as “community policing,” the foundation of which they describe as resting on three pillars: partnership, prevention, and problem-solving. We can say after years of experience that they have never even attempted to partner with our organization.
And city residents can hear (and judge) for themselves whether PVD Police have succeeded in pro-actively preventing noise — rather than just responding to complaints about it after the fact — or solving the problem of repeat offenders, who are the primary source of excessive noise in the city.
- Traffic Bureau — Among other things, the Traffic Bureau includes the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Unit, and is responsible for transmitting vehicle-related citations such as non-compliant exhausts to the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal and / or municipal court.
Phone: (401) 243-6279
Non-hazardous equipment violations such as modified mufflers can be enforced by a verbal warning or a citation. If you are recurrently exposed to excessive noise from trucks and other commercial vehicles, especially from a specific source, report it to PVD311. If the problem persists, you can contact the Traffic Bureau.
Civilian agencies for reporting noise
CITY SERVICES (PVD 311) — Designed for reporting only longer-term noise sources such as repeat offenders, and commercial sources such trash collection or excessively loud entertainment venues, due to how long it takes to transmit reports to the relevant city department to address the violation.
The online 311 form itself says to call Providence Police to report “real-time” noise (i.e., happening now), and to use the 311 form to document “ongoing” (repeated) noise from the same house or business, in order to create an official record that the city government was notified about the issue.
Webpage: https://311.providenceri.gov
E-mail: PVD311@ProvidenceRI.gov
Twitter: @PVD311
Mobile app: Apple / Android [We’ve received reports that the 311 mobile app is being discontinued]
Phone: 311 or (401) 421-2489 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. only (see note below)
The PVD 311 system was updated in March 2025, but it was never designed to address reports of excessive noise that require a timely response (i.e., measured in minutes rather than hours or days) — it is not staffed in the evening or on weekends, and takes an indeterminate amount of time to transfer noise reports to the appropriate city departments, who may not deal with them quickly.
Suggestions for using PVD311
The Noise Project recommends using the 311 website or mobile app [reportedly discontinued in 2025] or e-mailing PVD311@ProvidenceRI.gov instead of calling, so you can submit your report in your own words and retain a record of the content.7 To use the website [or app] you must create an account on PVD311 (which can be a pseudonym) to track your complaint.
If you send an e-mail, make the subject clear — such as “Excessive noise at [source type and location: house / business / city property address or approximate location] on [date].” Save any additional details for the text of the e-mail itself (see below).
In order to document recurrent noise issues, residents should describe the frequency of violations (how often it happens, including specific dates and / or or days of the week and times of day), the dates and case numbers of any previous reports to the police or 311, and any results (or lack of them) from those reports.8
The new PVD 311 form eliminated the categories for noise from fireworks and trash / recycling vendors (complaints against a waste hauler operating too early). This will likely reduce the number of both reports to the city, as some residents who reported them using 311 are not willing to call the police about them — especially excessively early garbage collection, which is not viewed as criminal (but probably should be).9
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS — It’s website says it “actively engages Providence residents, business owners, and community members” to “build trust” and “work with them shaping the future of our city,” but we have no idea what it actually does on a daily basis, and the director hasn’t responded to any of the e-mails we’ve sent him.
Webpage: https://www.providenceri.gov/community-relations/
Director: Anthony Aquino
E-mail: aaquino@providenceri.gov
Phone: (401) 369-4930
City agencies for reporting more specific noise sources
BOARD OF LICENSES — Responsible for regulating noise from the 8,000+ commercial sources it issues licenses to each year, including 400+ liquor licenses to bars / clubs / restaurants, and enforcing local ordinances and state laws that regulate such establishments.
Chair: Dylan Conley (a holdover from the Elorza administration re-appointed by Mayor Smiley)
Board members: Peter Mancini (vice chair), Adewole Akinbi, Erlin Rogel, Tiana Ochoa
Staff: Stephany Lopes*, director of licensing; Jose Giusti, deputy license administrator
Louis DeSimone, Board attorney; Mario Martone, city attorney
Webpage: https://www.providenceri.gov/board-of-licenses/
Phone: (401) 421-7740, ext. 5206 / 5207
E-mail: licensing@providenceri.gov (If you e-mail the License Board, please “cc” the Noise Project’s info@ e-mail address so we can track your complaint)
* May have left that position. As of March 2025, her name is still on the city website, but we have reports that she is gone.
ARTS, CULTURE, and TOURISM (ACT) — Responsible for some components of event permits
Webpage: https://www.providenceri.gov/act/
Director: Joe Wilson Jr.
Phone: (401) 680-5770
CITY SOLICITOR’S OFFICE — The City Solicitor is Providence’s chief legal officer. Among other things, his office refers cases to the Board of Licenses and the city’s under-the-radar Nuisance Task Force.
City Solicitor: Jeffrey Dana (retained from the Elorza administration by Mayor Smiley)
Website: www.providenceri.gov/law-department/
E-mail: jdana@providenceri.gov
Phone: (401) 680-5333
NUISANCE TASKFORCE — An inter-agency entity created to “protect and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods throughout Providence” by identifying, targeting, and abating current and long-standing nuisance properties in Providence in a systematic and collaborative way, and “educate individuals and communities to prevent new nuisances.”
It includes representatives from the city solicitor’s office; the PVD Police, Fire, and Inspection and Standards departments; and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office.
The Taskforce defines a nuisance property as “Any property that, by virtue of condition, activity, or situation, poses a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the community or that otherwise interferes with the quiet use and enjoyment of nearby properties” [emphasis added]. That would certainly include excessive noise.
Website: https://www.providenceri.gov/law-department/nuisance-task-force/
City Council / Legislative Branch
E-mail: council@providenceri.gov
Webpage: https://council.providenceri.gov/connect/contact-us/
Main phone: (401) 521-7477
Social media: @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social / @PVDCityCouncil
Council President: Rachel Miller (see contact information below)
The Providence City Council is responsible for creating and amending the city’s laws and public policies — including noise limits — and for ensuring that the mayor and his administration actually enforce the ordinances and implement the policies it passes. It can’t simply enact laws and then completely forget about them once the vote is over. Too often, however, that seems to be the case.
If the City Council passes laws (including budget allocations) but then allows the mayor to choose whether or not to implement them, it is effectively abdicating its legislative role and authority under Providence’s Home Rule Charter, and ceding it to the executive branch — in other words, letting the mayor determine what the city’s laws actually are. In which case, why bother to have a City Council?
If Mayor Smiley’s administration is unresponsive or otherwise ineffective in addressing noise, contact the City Council, including Council President Rachel Miller and your specific City Council representative, to ask them to require the executive branch to implement the laws that the Council has passed. The ordinances they pass have legal effects and aren’t just legislative theater.
Suggestions for contacting the City Council
The Noise Project recommends that residents contact the City Council and its individual members by e-mail to their official city e-mail addresses (see table below), which constitute an official city record that must legally be retained by the city and can be obtained through a public-records request.10
E-mail is preferable to using the contact form on the city website because it also allows residents to “cc” the Council members’ unofficial personal e-mail address(es) that they actually use — and the Noise Project’s info@ address, so we can track the issue — and to retain a copy of the message.
Residents can also provide input on proposed ordinances and amendments that the City Council is considering, either by testifying during public hearings or by e-mail or printed mail. Note that the deadline to submit testimony is by 3:00 p.m. two business days before the date of the hearing.
| Ward | Council Member* | E-Mail Address / Social Media | Notes |
| 1 | John Goncalves | ward1@providenceri.gov info@JohnforWard1.com Twitter: @JohnGPVD | Fox Point and downtown Re-elected in 2022 |
| 2 | Helen Anthony Finance Committee chair | ward2@providenceri.gov helen@helenanthony.com | Blackstone and Wayland Re-elected in 2022 |
| 3 | Sue AnderBois Environment Committee | ward3@providenceri.gov anderbois.ward3@gmail.com @sueanderbois.bsky.social | Summit Elected 2022 |
| 4 | Justin Roias | ward4@providenceri.gov JustinRoiasWard4@gmail.com Twitter: @JustinRoias | Charles / North End Elected in 2022 |
| 5 | Jo-Ann Ryan Majority Leader | ward5@providenceri.gov campaign e-mail address Twitter: @JoAnnRyanPVD5 | Elmhurst Term-limited in 2026 |
| 6 | Miguel Sanchez Finance Committee | ward6@providenceri.gov Twitter: @MSanchezPVD | Mt. Pleasant Elected in 2022 |
| 7 | Ana Vargas | ward7@providenceri.gov | Manton, Silver Lake Elected in 2022 |
| 8 | James Taylor Finance Committee | ward8@providenceri.gov | West End Re-elected in 2022 |
| 9 | Juan Pichardo | ward9@providenceri.gov juan@juanmpichardo.com Twitter: @JuanMPichardo | Elmwood Elected in 2022 |
| 10 | Pedro Espinal Ordinance Committee chair | ward10@providenceri.gov pedroe1130@gmail.com | Washington Park Re-elected in 2022 |
| 11 | Mary Kay Harris | ward11@providenceri.gov Twitter: @MaryKayWard11 | Upper South PVD Term-limited in 2026 |
| 12 | Althea Graves | ward12@providenceri.gov Twitter: @MsAltheaGraves | Valley, Elected in 2022 |
| 13 | Rachel Miller Council president | ward13@providenceri.gov rachel.miller.m@gmail.com Bluesky: Rachel-RI Twitter: @RachelRI | Federal Hill Re-elected in 2022 |
| 14 | Shelley Peterson | ward14@providenceri.gov Twitter: @Shel1219 Bluesky: ShelPVD14 | Elmhurst Elected in 2022 |
| 15 | Oscar Vargas | ward15@providenceri.gov oscarvargas15@gmail.com | Olneyville, Silver Lake Re-elected in 2022 |
State and Federal agencies
In addition to city government officials, state and even federal agencies and officials have a role in regulating sources of noise in Providence, such as motor vehicles. If the mayor and City Council are unresponsive to complaints about noise, you can try to contact RI agencies and legislators or the regional office of the EPA.
_______________________
1 If you e-mail city officials about noise, please “cc” the Noise Project’s info@ address, so we’re aware of your issue and can follow up. This may also lead them to take your complaint more seriously.
2 The Noise Project has repeatedly asked Mayor Smiley to publicly designate a specific city official to address noise, but he refuses and instead leaves noise issues to Emily Crowell, who in her capacity as his chief of staff handles all city policies.
3 This includes the Providence Police; Board of Licenses; Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism; and other city agencies with responsibility for enforcing municipal noise-related ordinances.
4 The fact that none of the City Council members is willing to study or even talk about doing so should tell residents a lot more than what some Council members may say about it.
5 Noise apologists / denialists often deflect the issue by claiming that people simply need to ask those making noise to be quieter, but resident responses to our Community Noise Survey indicate that asking people to be quieter only resolves the issue 7% of the time — 39% report that it gets “somewhat” quieter, and 54% say there’s no change. (We didn’t include an option to indicate that it gets worse, but residents occasionally report that some people’s response is to be even louder.)
6 In addition, noise reports are logged, so contacting the police at least helps to generate official data on the location and frequency of noise in the city, which Mayor Smiley has refused to otherwise collect using sound-level monitors — despite saying as a candidate that he would measure noise if elected.
7 If you report noise by phone, the person who answers will log your complaint in their words, which may not accurately convey the issue you’re reporting. In addition, the city will cite their ’record’ of the conversation — i.e., what the PVD311 staff claim you told them and wrote on the form — but you won’t necessarily know what it says, or be able to dispute it.
8 Providing information about past violations may seem unnecessary, but it avoids relying on the city to aggregate information from previous reports, which is the key to demonstrating repeated offenses. They may do so, but they may not, and if they don’t it means that the issue is never referred to the city’s Nuisance Taskforce — and the noise never stops.
9 The previous PVD311 form also told residents to call the police for fireworks noise instead of using 311 to report it, but the drop-down menu nonetheless included fireworks as a report option. For early garbage collection, it asked whether it was residential or commercial service, the name of the company doing it, and included an option to keep the report private.
10 Calling City Council members instead of e-mailing is not recommended, since there is no record of what was said on the call. Doing both is a good idea, since your e-mail can reference the date and subject(s) of the phone call.