Providence County, Rhode Island Public Records Lookup | ProvidenceRecords.us

Providence County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Providence County?

Public records in Providence County are defined under the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-1) as "all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data processing records, computer stored data, computer retrievable data, or other material regardless of physical form or characteristics made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency."

Providence County maintains numerous types of public records that are accessible to citizens and other interested parties. These records include:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases maintained by the Rhode Island Judiciary
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the Providence Recorder of Deeds Office
Vital Records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business names registered with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
Tax Records: Property tax information and assessment records maintained by the Providence Tax Assessor's Office
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration and election results maintained by the Rhode Island Board of Elections
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of county commission meetings, board meetings, and other public bodies
Budget and Financial Documents: County financial records, expenditures, and budgets
Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and incident reports (with certain restrictions) maintained by local police departments
Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning decisions, and building permits

Each record type is maintained by a specific government agency within Providence County. The Providence Municipal Archives serves as the official repository for the permanent records of the City of Providence, while the Rhode Island State Archives maintains historical records for the entire state.

Is Providence County an Open Records County?

Providence County adheres to Rhode Island's open records laws as established in the Access to Public Records Act (APRA) (R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-1 et seq.). This statute establishes the public's right to access government records with certain exceptions.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(a), "Except as provided in § 38-2-2(4), all records maintained or kept on file by any public body, whether or not those records are required by any law or by rule or regulation, shall be public records and every person shall have the right to inspect and/or copy those records at such reasonable time as may be determined by the custodian thereof."

Providence County government agencies comply with this statute by making records available for public inspection during normal business hours. The county also follows Rhode Island's Open Meetings Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-1 et seq.), which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public with proper notice.

The City of Providence has established specific public records request procedures in compliance with APRA. These procedures outline the process for requesting records, applicable fees, and response timeframes. Under current law, agencies must respond to public records requests within 10 business days, with a possible extension of up to an additional 20 business days for voluminous or difficult requests.

How to Find Public Records in Providence County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Providence County may follow these steps to obtain the information they need:

Identify the appropriate agency: Determine which government office maintains the records you seek. For court records, contact the Rhode Island Judiciary; for property records, contact the Providence Recorder of Deeds; for vital records, contact the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Submit a formal request: Complete an Access to Public Records Request Form, which is available from most government agencies or can be downloaded from their websites. The City of Providence APRA Request Form is available online.

Provide specific details: Clearly describe the records being requested, including dates, names, addresses, or other identifying information to help the agency locate the records efficiently.

Submit the request: Deliver the request in person, by mail, or electronically to the appropriate agency. Many agencies now accept requests via email or through online portals.

Pay applicable fees: Be prepared to pay any required fees for searching, retrieving, or copying records (detailed in the next section).

Receive the records: Records may be provided in person, by mail, or electronically, depending on the agency's capabilities and the requester's preference.

For court records, the Rhode Island Judiciary maintains a Public Portal where case information can be accessed online. Property records can be searched through the Providence Land Evidence Records online system.

Rhode Island Judiciary
250 Benefit Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-3250
Rhode Island Judiciary

Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
3 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-5960
Rhode Island Department of Health

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Providence County?

The cost to obtain public records in Providence County is governed by the Access to Public Records Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4), which establishes standard fee structures for record retrieval and copying.

Current fees for public records in Providence County include:

Photocopies/printouts: $0.15 per page for documents copyable on standard office equipment
Search and retrieval: Up to $15.00 per hour, with no charge for the first hour
Electronic records: Actual cost of physical media (CD, DVD, flash drive) if provided by the agency
Certified copies: Additional fees may apply for certification
Specialized documents: Maps, photographs, and oversized documents may have different fee structures

Specific record types have statutorily established fees:

Vital records: $22 for the first copy of a birth, death, marriage, or civil union certificate; $18 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
Court records: $5.00 for a docket sheet printout; additional fees for certified copies and complete case files
Land evidence records: $8 for the first page of a recorded document and $2 for each additional page

Payment methods accepted by most Providence County agencies include cash, check, and money order. Some agencies also accept credit cards for in-person transactions or online payments.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4(e), agencies may waive fees where disclosure is in the public interest. Additionally, no fees may be charged for documents that are inspected in person but not copied.

Does Providence County Have Free Public Records?

Providence County provides several options for accessing public records at no cost:

In-person inspection: Under Rhode Island law, members of the public may inspect public records during normal business hours at no charge. Agencies may require an appointment and supervision during inspection.

Online resources: Several free online databases provide access to public records:

The Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal offers free access to basic case information
The Providence City Council Meeting Portal provides free access to meeting agendas and minutes
The Rhode Island Voter Information Center offers free access to voter registration status and polling place information

Public terminals: The Providence County Courthouse and Providence City Hall maintain public access terminals where visitors can search certain records at no cost.

Public libraries: The Providence Public Library and other libraries in the county provide free access to certain public records and research assistance.

It is important to note that while inspection is free, fees may still apply for copies of records or for search and retrieval time exceeding one hour.

Providence Public Library
150 Empire Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 455-8000
Providence Public Library

Who Can Request Public Records in Providence County?

Under the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(a)), "every person" has the right to inspect and/or copy public records. This broad eligibility includes:

Rhode Island residents
Non-residents and out-of-state requesters
Business entities and organizations
Media representatives
Attorneys and legal representatives
Government agencies

The law does not require requesters to:

Provide identification (except for certain restricted records)
State the purpose of their request
Explain why they want the records
Be a Rhode Island resident

However, certain record types have specific eligibility restrictions:

Vital records: Birth certificates less than 100 years old are restricted to the person named on the record, their parent/guardian, spouse, child, grandchild, attorney, or those with a demonstrable legitimate interest
Criminal history records: Complete criminal history information is available only to the subject of the record or their authorized representative
Medical records: Access is restricted to the patient or their authorized representative under HIPAA regulations
Juvenile records: Generally confidential with limited exceptions for parties to the case

When requesting records about oneself, identification may be required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information. For requests concerning other individuals' records, access may be limited based on privacy protections established in R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4).

What Records Are Confidential in Providence County?

While Rhode Island law favors transparency, certain records are exempt from public disclosure under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4). Records that are confidential in Providence County include:

Personal privacy information: Records that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and medical information
Law enforcement records: Records relating to ongoing criminal investigations, intelligence information, and security procedures
Juvenile records: Court records and police reports involving minors, with limited exceptions
Sealed court records: Records that have been sealed by court order, including expunged criminal records and certain family court matters
Personnel records: Employment records containing personal information about public employees, though certain information like salary and position title remains public
Trade secrets: Proprietary business information and trade secrets submitted to government agencies
Attorney-client privileged materials: Communications between government agencies and their legal counsel
Preliminary drafts and notes: Working papers, draft documents, and preliminary recommendations in which opinions are expressed
Tax returns and financial information: Individual and corporate tax returns and related financial information
Medical records: Patient records protected under HIPAA and state medical privacy laws
Adoption records: Records related to adoption proceedings
Child welfare records: Records maintained by the Department of Children, Youth and Families regarding child abuse and neglect

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(B), agencies must apply a balancing test when considering whether to withhold records based on privacy concerns, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the privacy interests of individuals.

When a record contains both public and confidential information, agencies are required to redact the confidential portions and release the remainder of the record when reasonably segregable.

Providence County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Providence City Recorder of Deeds Office
City Hall, Room 413
25 Dorrance Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 680-5230
Providence Recorder of Deeds

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and federal/state holidays

The Providence City Recorder of Deeds Office maintains and provides access to land evidence records for properties within the City of Providence. Services provided include:

Recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land evidence documents
Providing certified copies of recorded documents
Maintaining an index of property records
Assisting with property record searches

The office accepts the following payment methods for recording fees and document copies: cash, check, money order, and credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover).

For land evidence records in other municipalities within Providence County, contact the respective city or town clerk's office:

North Providence Town Clerk
2000 Smith Street
North Providence, RI 02911
(401) 232-0900 ext. 1230
North Providence Town Clerk

Cranston City Clerk
869 Park Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
(401) 780-3194
Cranston City Clerk

Lookup Public Records in Providence County

Rhode Island Judiciary Case Information

Providence Recorder of Deeds

City of Providence Public Records Request Procedures

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