Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.
Home - FAQs
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EMA / Homeland Security
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EMA / Homeland Security
Visit the Ready.gov website.
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EMA / Homeland Security
Check the National Grid website.
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EMA / Homeland Security
Check out the NSEMA Emergency Shelter Locations page for links to shelters.
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Call 401-767-2206.EMA / Homeland Security
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EMA / Homeland Security
Go to the Neighborhood Emergency Teams and CERT website.
Planning Department
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It depends on the parcel acreage, frontage and the dimensional requirements of the particular zoning district where the land is located. Other factors such as the suitability of that land to support development need to be considered. For instance, areas containing wetlands, steep slopes (>20%), floodplains and those areas within easements are considered unsuitable for development, and these areas not counted toward that lot yield of a particular parcel.Planning Department
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83 Greene Street, North Smithfield, RI 02896Planning Department
Police Department
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Usually 7 to 10 days from date of filing.Police Department
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Contact North Smithfield Police at 401-762-1212.Police Department
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By contacting the Records Clerk at 401-762-1212, ext. 200.Police Department
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800-322-3223Police Department
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Wednesday and Saturday from 8:30 to 9 am Cost is $10 (Checks and money orders only, no cash) North Smithfield Residents onlyPolice Department
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Captain Ellen LamoreauxPolice Department
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Animal Control Officer- 401-766-0377Police Department
Taxes - Property, Water, Sewer
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Due to the high volume of payments we receive, please allow up to two weeks for processing. Due to the high volume of payments we receive, please allow up to two weeks for processing. Due to the high volume of payments we receive, please allow up to two weeks for processing.Taxes - Property, Water, Sewer
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Taxes - Property, Water, Sewer
Your balance is available online by clicking here. You will need your account number and PIN which are printed on your tax bill. When you enter your account number, use the number zero (0), not the letter (O) and be sure to enter the dashes. In addition to viewing your balance, you can make a payment using Visa or MasterCard. If you choose to make a payment by this method, a 3% surcharge will be added to your tax payment. This surcharge does not go to the Town of North Smithfield, it is required to pay the credit card company and the processing agent. You can also check your balance by calling the Collections Department at 401-767-2200, ext. 511.
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The tax bills are mailed to the owner on record on December 31st prior to the July billing (the year before). Most banks pay electronically and do not request a bill. Our suggestion is to call your mortgage or escrow company to ensure that they don’t need a copy of your bill. It is possible that you may need to send a copy to your mortgage company.Taxes - Property, Water, Sewer
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Taxes - Property, Water, Sewer
Excise tax is a tax on the privilege of registration per RI General Law 44-34-2. The value is determined by the Rhode Island Vehicle Value Commission per RI General Law 44-34-11 and is based on NADA values. The value is then reduced by the RI State exemption of $675. Passenger cars (type 01) between the ages of 6 and 17 years old receive an additional exemption based on the maximum taxable value for the age of the vehicle. The value is then prorated by the by the number of days the vehicle was registered in that year. Please note that the taxes are for what you had registered during the previous calendar year (January 1st through December 31st). The tax amount is calculated by multiplying the prorated value of the vehicle by the tax rate. If you feel the dates of registration are incorrect on your tax bill, you will need to produce the cancellation receipt (TR-3) from the RI Division of Motor Vehicles. This is what you receive from the RIDMV when you turn in your license plates. This is the only document we can accept to make adjustments to the registration dates on tax bills.
- DMV Research Department: 401-462-5720
- DMV Enforcement Division: 401-462-5736
View the Division of Motor Vehicles website.
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The current tax bill is for any and all vehicles registered from January 1st through December 31st of the previous year. For example, the 2019 tax bill you received in July of 2019 is for any and all vehicles that were registered between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. If you did not turn in your plates during that time frame, then you will be taxed on them until they are returned to the DMV for cancellation.Taxes - Property, Water, Sewer
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You have forty-five days from when the bill is mailed to file an appeal disputing the valuation of your motor vehicle or trailer. For more detailed information, see RI General Law 44-34-8 or the RI Vehicle Value Commission FAQ package.Taxes - Property, Water, Sewer
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All property valuation appeals must be filed with the Assessor’s office no later than ninety (90) days after the due date of the first quarter payment. The account must be current to preserve appeal rights. The appeal must be received by the Tax Assessor's Office, 575 Smithfield Road, North Smithfield, by the deadline. No exceptions can be made to this deadline for any reason. See RI General Law 44-5-26 for complete details on the appeal procedure and timeline.Taxes - Property, Water, Sewer
Town Clerk
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To register your dog within the town of North Smithfield, you have four months that you must register your dog between January 2nd and April 30th of every year. If registering your dog after the April 30th date, you will impose a late fee of $5 per dog. You must also bring with you a copy of your dog's rabies certificate when purchasing a license.Town Clerk
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Town Clerk
To find your polling place, please go to the Rhode Island Secretary of State website. Insert your address to get the polling location.
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Town Clerk
All agendas are posted 48 hours prior to all scheduled commission, committee, board and town council meetings at both the Town Hall and Municipal Annex offices on the bulletin boards, indicating the time and place of each meeting.
Please refer to the Open Meeting website for all public meeting notices, agendas and minutes that are posted through the Secretary of State's website.
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The town council meets every 1st and 3rd Monday evening beginning at 7 pm. The first meeting of the month is a workshop, and the second meeting of the month is a regular town meeting.Town Clerk
Trash & Recycling
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Yes, unlimited amounts of recycling are collected.Trash & Recycling
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Yes, your recycle bins must remain out until your trash is picked up.Trash & Recycling
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Trash & Recycling
See if there is more you can do to reduce this amount.
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Trash & Recycling
Moving into our town? See the information below to understand our trash program. Moving out or cleaning out? Plan ahead and understand what the town will collect when you have a larger than normal amount of trash or recycling.
View the Moving Out of or Into North Smithfield Recycling Flyer (PDF).
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Call Recycling at 401-767-2200, ext. 348, to set up an appointment for pick up. Collections take place on the first Saturday of the month. For safety reasons: take all the doors off the appliance before placing on curb.Trash & Recycling
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Trash & Recycling
No, please only put items you are positive belong in the recycling program!
If unsure, try to find out, but when you are not sure, place that item in your trash bin. Wrong items in recycling contaminate the good recycling and could harm workers and/or the equipment sorting recycling.
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Trash & Recycling
Wondering how to dispose of batteries or construction debris?
View the ecoRI Article Specifically on Disposing Batteries (PDF).
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Trash & Recycling
These items can be disposed of at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery's Eco Depot by appointment. RI residents may schedule an appointment by contacting Eco-Depot at 401-942-1430, ext. 241.
Keep Hazardous Waste out of our trash and environment. With all the free Eco-Depot collections sponsored yearly, it is easy to do.
What items are considered hazardous? The list can surprise you. View the Hazardous Waste (Eco-Depot) Information Brochure (PDF) for a complete list of items that are considered hazardous and to learn about the Eco-Depot collections.
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Let's make sure all happenings in NS recycle and protect our environment. It's easy; all so we can see how we can turn your event "green."Trash & Recycling
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Yes, your trash can be put out in trash cans or trash bags. The limit is two 36 gallon containers if your recycling bin is also out. Remember, NS has a no-bin, no-barrel policy, meaning recycling must be curbside to have any trash collected.Trash & Recycling
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For your recycling to be easily recognized by the recycling driver, we recommend you use them. You may also use the standard yellow "Extra Recycling" sticker. It must be clear that recycling is in the containers to assure the recycle drivers stop.Trash & Recycling
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Call the Recycling Coordinator at 401-767-2200, ext. 345.Trash & Recycling
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Just go to the Highway Garage or Town Hall where you can obtain an "Extra Recycling" sticker for free. Put on a container and place curbside with your other recycling bins.Trash & Recycling
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Additional trash will only be collected if in the Official Town of NS trash bags. They cost $10 for a package of 5 and are available at the Highway Garage.Trash & Recycling
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Call MTG at 866-420-6342Trash & Recycling
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You can obtain a blue curbside bins either at Town Hall, 1 Main Street, Slatersville, or the Highway Department, 281 Quaker Highway, NS. The cost per bin is $6.Trash & Recycling
Background Checks & Fingerprinting
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Background Checks & Fingerprinting
Town Residents or NS School Employees (resident or non-resident).
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Background Checks & Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting is done on Wednesdays from 8:30 am to 9:30 am at the following address:
North Smithfield Police Department
575 Smithfield Road
North Smithfield, RI 02896 -
Background Checks & Fingerprinting
Price is $40 if school employment related (check or money order only). For DCYF/Foster Care/Adoption/Child Care Workers, there is no charge.
Yard Waste
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Yard Waste
Yard waste that is accepted during our seasonal collections is defined as vegetation, grass, leaves and weeds. Small bundles of branches that are twined and less than 2 inches in diameter and 3 feet in length are also accepted. It does not include dirt, stones or trash.
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Yard Waste
The town offers curbside collection for 8 weeks in the Spring and 8 weeks again in the Fall.
Collection takes place on your regular trash and recycling day. Please remember, yard waste is not allowed to be in the same bins as your regular trash and recycling.
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Yard Waste
It is turned into compost. This is why it cannot be bagged in plastic, mixed with trash or non-organic materials.
It is transported to the state landfill (RIRRC) and deposited in the compost area at the facility. Next, it is run through a shredder and turned for about a year which allows this material to naturally breakdown. Within a short time, your old leaves and clippings will decompose and become nutrient-rich humus which fuels plant growth and restores vitality to depleted soil.
RIRRC then offers this grade A compost to residents for $30/cubic yard or $8 for a 40-pound bag. Look on this page as it is easy to make your own for free!