{"id":167,"date":"2024-08-02T11:49:15","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T15:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo-draft\/?page_id=167"},"modified":"2026-06-25T08:14:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T12:14:57","slug":"ri-state-lid-regulations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo\/stormwater\/ri-state-lid-regulations\/","title":{"rendered":"RI State LID Regulations, Manuals, and Guidance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Explore resources provided by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), RI NEMO, Cooperative Extension, and the Rhode Island Natural History Survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Rhode Island Low Impact Development Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual<\/h2>

Examples of ways to amend ordinances to encourage more effective implementation of LID practices<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Rhode Island Low Impact Development Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual<\/h2>

LID-informed industry standards for stormwater management for property owners, engineers, contractors, municipal staff, and others in planning<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Rhode Island Stormwater Management Guidance for Individual Single-Family Resident Lot Development<\/h2>

Assistance on meeting LID requirements for rooftops greater than 600 square feet, driveways, and parking areas<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

In the Weeds: A Guide to Maintaining Vegetation in Stormwater Treatment Systems in Rhode Island<\/h2>

Lists invasive, weedy plants likely to compromise the function of stormwater treatment systems<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Rhode Island Native Plant Guide<\/h2>

An interactive, searchable database of plants native to RI for landscape professionals and backyard gardeners; should be used to establish landscaping standards<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Invasive Plants in Rhode Island (2020)<\/h2>

List of invasive species compiled by the Rhode Island Invasive Species Council, chaired by the Rhode Island Natural History Survey; can be used to inform landscaping standards<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sample Ordinance Language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Landscaping Standards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many RI cities and towns have landscaping standards (in Land Development and Subdivision Regulations and elsewhere) that require the use of \u201csustainable\u201d plants, but the document often referenced \u2013 Sustainable Trees and Shrubs for Southern New England<\/em> \u2013 is outdated and no longer available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, the RI Native Plant Guide<\/em> (URI 2016) should be used. This is important because native plants thrive with less water and fertilizer, are more resistant to RI pests and diseases, and greatly benefit local wildlife and pollinators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going another step further to specifically prohibit the use of invasive or weedy species will go a long way towards keeping local landscapes healthy and low maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following example language is suggested for development applications as well as for municipal standard operating procedures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant Materials \u2013 Standards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant materials shall conform to the requirements described in the latest edition of American Standard for Nursery Stock<\/a>, published by the American Association of Nurserymen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant materials shall be selected from the digital database RI Native Plant Guide, University of Rhode Island, 2016, or latest amendment, as native plants require less water and no fertilizer once established, are better suited to resist RI pests and diseases, and benefit local wildlife and pollinators. To the maximum extent possible, locally sourced native plants shall be selected, which are adapted to local growing <\/em>conditions and do not carry pests or non-native seed that may be harbored in soil shipped from other parts of the country.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use of any invasive or weedy species listed in the 2020 RI Invasive Plant List, or more recent RI Invasive Species Council (RIISC) plant list at https:\/\/rinhs.org\/invasive-species-portal\/invasive-species-lists\/ is strictly prohibited.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Explore resources provided by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), RI NEMO, Cooperative Extension, and the Rhode Island Natural History Survey. Sample Ordinance Language Landscaping Standards Many RI cities and towns have landscaping standards (in Land Development and Subdivision Regulations and elsewhere) that require the use […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5144,"featured_media":0,"parent":19,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-167","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":909,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167\/revisions\/909"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/nemo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}