Tax bills on newly acquired properties will be sent to the owner of record (as of December 31.) Only if requested by the new owner will it be mailed. Our normal schedule for mailing all bills is late-June. Any person requesting copy of a bill after this date must contact the tax office at taxinfo@westerlyri.gov or 401-348-2523 or 401-348-2524, and a copy will be mailed.

You will receive a copy of your bill unless we received a request from your mortgage company, in which case, the mortgage company will be sent the bill automatically. We recommend contacting your mortgage company to verify they have received your tax bill.

All tax bills are mailed once a year, approximately the first week of July. In accordance with Rhode Island General Law 44-7-7, "Failure by the collector to send or failure by the taxpayer to receive a notice shall not excuse the nonpayment of the tax or affect its validity or any proceedings for the collection of the tax".

Please contact the Tax Assessor's office at (401)348-2540 or (401)348-2543

All address changes must be emailed or in writing. Address changes are handled by the Tax Assessor's office. Please email changes to jmisto@westerlyri.gov or mail to the Assessor's Office at 45 Broad St., Westerly, RI 02891. If you have any questions regarding address changes, please give the Assessor's Office a call at (401)348-2543.

You can pay your taxes: - In person at Town Hall 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday- Friday - By mail: Town of Westerly P.O. Box 9900, Dept.101, Providence, RI 02940-4000 - 24 hour drive-up drop box located on the side of Town Hall.

No. The Town of Westerly Tax Collection Office is not associated with the fire districts in Westerly. There are seven fire districts in Westerly. Please contact your Fire Districts with any fire tax questions. For further information on the Fire Districts please go to      www.WesterlyRI.gov/FireDistricts   

If you pay your taxes or water bill in person at Town Hall, you can pay by cash, check, MasterCard or Visa. Credit Card payments can be made on-line for all tax and water/sewer payments. We are not able to take any form of payments over the telephone.

The Westerly Water and Sewer Department maintain a twenty-four-hour service for emergency work only. Westerly Police Department at 401-596-2022 or Dispatch at 401-348-2589 will handle the emergency calls and dispatch the on-call duty man to the job site. Please be advised that any work done on private property after business hours is subject to a minimum labor charge of $100.00 that will be billed directly to the property owner.

All residential Sewer bills are charged a “Flat Fee” charge currently billed at $356.00 per year or $178.00 semi-annually. This bill is not dependent of any water that passes through the meter.

There are a couple of reasons why your water bill is unusually high. The number one reason for most customers with a high bill is a leaking toilet. This is the worst cause for a high water bill and most of the time they are SILENT leaks!

You will need to check for the following things or call a plumber to do it for you.

• If you hear what sounds like your toilet flushing all the time (sometimes this can be a very faint running water sound) the water in the back tank is not stopping below the overflow. This means that the water level is too high and is constantly filling up. To stop this, gently bend the rod down. (Note: the rod has the ball attached to it, and some newer toilets may no longer have this ball system.)
• In the back tank, there is a flapper. If the flapper doesn't sit properly after flushing, this could mean that it is either old or cracked. You must fix this immediately because the water is bypassing the flapper, which causes your toilet to waste a lot of water. Unlike the previous problem, you may not be able to hear this happening, so it is wise to check for this problem periodically.
• You can check this yourself by adding a little food coloring to the back tank (enough to change the color of the water). Do NOT flush the toilet. Wait about 15-30 minutes and then check the toilet BOWL (not the tank, the bowl). If the color has gone from the holding tank to the bowl you need to replace the flapper valve in the holding tank as it is not holding the seal any longer.
• If you have an outside sprinkler system for your lawn, these use a lot of water so expect your bill to be quite a bit higher in the seasons it is being used. The underground system can also develop a leak in the piping. To check this, make sure there is no water being used in your house and turn the water on to the sprinkler system, but do not run the system. Then look at your leak detector on the meter (small red triangle) This should not be moving if you are not running water. If it is moving, and your toilets are fine (see above for info on them), you may have an underground leak in your sprinkler system.

Potential causes of discolored water or low water pressure cam include:

 - There could be a water main break on a water main servicing your area. It may be a problem we are already working on, or it may be a problem that is just starting and we have not been notified of yet. If your notice water coming out of the ground in front of your house, or in your neighborhood, please call the water department. 

-There could be an unauthorized opening of a fire hydrant in your neighborhood. 

-Check for a clogged screen on one of your faucets. 

-Check faucets to see if they are leaking. 

-Run just cold water, then run hot water. If the discoloration (and there may be associated odor also) is only with your hot water, you may have a problem with your hot water heater.

Most properties are billed every six months. The exceptions are some commercial properties with a high water volume, and certain properties that remove their meters every winter. Different areas of town are billed at different times of the year. 

-Once the bill is issued, you have 35 days from the issue date to pay this bill before interest starts accruing. Once the bill is past the due date, interest will start accruing on a daily basis, going back to the date of issue, not the due date. This interest will keep accruing on any portion that remains unpaid. 

-To pay your bill you may send in a check or money order with your account number written on it, to the address provided on the bill. Or you may respond in person to the Tax Collectors office at 45 Broad Street to pay in person. 

-If you wish, you may also pay your bill by credit card via phone 1-800-272-9829 (Our jurisdiction code is 4910) or on-line at www.officialpayments.com.

 -Please note there will be a transaction fee for these last two options

If you have a question about your bill: 

-First take a reading off your water meter 

-Have your account number on hand 

-Call the Westerly Utility Department at 401-348-2559

Some people are eligible for an exemption of the State Surcharge on their water bill. The requirements for Elderly exemption are: 

- The homeowner must be 65 years of age or older. 

- The homeowner must reside in the home, and that property is their primary residence as indicated on their government issued identification. If it is a multifamily dwelling, you are only eligible for a partial exemption. 

- A surcharge exemption form must be filled out either at the town hall at 45 Broad Street or at the Water Department at 68 White Rock Road. 

- A copy of your government issued identification must be provided

- The exemption can only be applied after this form is filled out. Back credits will not be provided on bills already issued to you.

If you are purchasing a house that is already built, it is very important for your attorney to call us for a final water bill on that property. This ensures that the water and sewer is up to date before you take title of the property. At least 48 hours prior to the closing, your attorney should call us with the following information: 

-Current owner of the property 

-Address of the property 

-Name of parties purchasing the property with correct mailing address for billings and their contact information 

We will get a reading from the properties water meter and fax a bill to your attorney for the closing. This ensures that they collect the monies due from the prior owners. If we are not notified of the closing, you as the new homeowner will be responsible for any outstanding water and sewer bills. These bills stay with the property and transfer with ownership.

A seasonal water account means that we remove your water meter and reinstall it on a seasonal basis. The homeowner or plumber would be responsible for scheduling the removal or installation of the meter and must be called in at least 48 hours in advance, please call us at 401-348-2559 or 401-348-2560. The charge for this service is $100.00 to remove and $100.00 to install, and you will be billed on an annual basis in December of each year.

If you are affiliated with a specific political party, you may only vote in that party’s primary.  Unaffiliated, or independent, voters can vote in any party primary.

You may change your party or disaffiliate by updating your record here. You can also complete a new paper voter registration form. You will officially return to your unaffiliated status in 30 days.

You have the option of affiliating with any recognized political party when you register to vote or update your voter registration information. You can do this at any time, but it must be done at least 30 days before voting in a primary. If you do not choose a party affiliation, you will be an unaffiliated voter. Unaffiliated voters can vote in any party primary.

Voters who are experiencing homelessness are still eligible to vote. If you are homeless and need to register to vote or request a mail ballot, contact the RI Secretary of State Elections Division at 401-222-2340 for assistance.

Please visit the website of the RI Department of State, Secretary of State or call 348-2503 for a registration form to be mailed.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), provides step-by-step guidance on how a military/overseas voter can apply for and receive their mail ballot.

For Mail Ballot Application and information go to the RI Department of State, Secretary of State ,the State of Rhode Island Board of Elections, click link on Canvassers page or call 348-2503 for an application to be mailed.

Yes, the town offers the option to pay for traffic tickets online. 
Click here to go to the On-line Ticket Payment System

Yes, we do allow credit card payments for traffic violations online, by phone or in person. Please note that there is a credit card convenience fee in addition to your fine if you choose this payment method.  Past due violations can only be paid by phone or in person.  

If you have a good driving record you may request that your summons be dismissed upon payment of costs by pleading guilty with a good driving record. You may apply by mail or appear in court to request this procedure. “Good driving record” means no moving violations within the three* years prior to the current violation. *Certain restrictions apply. If you are an out-of-state motorist, you must bring a copy of your driving record from that State to your arraignment. If you are eligible to enter a plea under the “Good Driving Record” statute, a $60 cost will be imposed.

You may appear at court on the date listed on your violation in order to explain your defense to the Judge.

You may pay by cash or check in person or by mailing a check or money order made payable to the Westerly Municipal Court, 45 Broad St, Westerly, RI 02891 .  You may also pay online at  https://westerly.rmcpay.com/.   A service charge will be applied for online payments.  Please note that a late fee will be applied if the ticket is not paid within 30 days.

Please contact the HR Director if you have questions on the following topics: Benefits: including FMLA, Health Insurance, Worker's Compensation, Life Insurance, Dental Insurance, Pension Benefits (401a, 457). Talent Acquisition: including Job Postings, Vacancy Status, On-Boarding, I-9's. Forms: if you are looking for a particular form and require assistance. Please contact the Human Resources Department if you have questions on the following topics: Employee & Labor Relations: including union contracts, discipline, policies and procedures, performance management, rewards and recognition programs. Compensation: including salary schedules, pay practices and policies. Classification: including job descriptions, job analysis. Compliance: including employment regulations, personnel ordinances. HRIS: including the Human Resources modules in MUNIS, HR website. Training & Development: including training classes. Please send an e-mail to HR@Westerlyri.gov if you have any non-time sensitive, non-critical, or general questions.

The Town's Human Resources Departments processes and handles payroll issues for the Town of Westerly and the School Department. Please contact the Senior Payroll and HRIS Specialist at 401-348-2506 or via e-mail at payroll@westerlyri.gov.

The Human Resources Department has an open door policy and welcomes all employees who have questions or need to speak with our staff. Due to the unique and diverse nature of the Town's operations; often times, Human Resources staff is off-site working with other Town departments. If you drop by and an HR staff member is not in the office, please feel free to send us an e-mail at HR@westerlyri.gov, as all members of the HR department read and respond to that e-mail address. Alternatively, you may call 401-348-2525 and leave a voice-mail.

The primary contact in Human Resources is the Human Resources Director. Whom you can reach at 401-348-2525 or by e-mail at HR@westerlyri.gov. If you have a general non-time sensitive question you can always e-mail the general HR account at HR@westerlyri.gov.

As with most organizations, the Town uses a variety of benefits partners to deliver and administer our benefits. The HR Departments role is to act as a facilitator between our employees and those third party administrators. Often times due to HIPAA, privacy, or banking laws, HR can only assist up to a point, and then the issue/case needs to be referred to our TPA. However, if you have an issue, please do not hesitate in contacting HR first to see if we can assist you.

Yes, for overlay or strip and replace, however the code limits roof overlay to a maximum of two layers total.

Yes

Yes, however, you must follow the most current Building and Energy Codes.  Please call the office for the requirements.  401-348-2547 (U-factor is how well the window insulates. The lower the U-factor the better)

Yes, there are two criteria to determined what type of window you may need, it is classified by what wind zone you are in either 110 mph or 120 mph.

Please call the office for a determination 401-348-2547

Yes, a building and zoning permits are required regardless if it is the same size or smaller.

No

 No, a building permit will only be required if you alter (add or remove an existing wall)

However a plumbing and electrical permit may be needed if you are adding new electrical or relocating plumbing.

No, whether tile, hardwood, vinyl or laminate no permit is needed.

Yes

Yes, any pool the can hold 24” or more of water is required to have a building and zoning permit.

 Yes, building and zoning permits are required.

No, however the zoning department has height limits on fences according to your zoning district please contact the zoning office for the proper answer. 401-348-2549 * please be advised we recommend that you install the fence enough on your property that you can perform maintenance without trespassing.

Yes, permits are needed for roof mounted and ground mounted arrays. *  Residential ground mounted arrays will need zoning approval, Commercial arrays whether roof or ground mounted  will need zoning and local Fire District approval .

 Yes, building and zoning permits will be required.

Yes, building and zoning will be needed required.

Yes. We encourage students to learn about quarry operations and geology. School officials and teachers can schedule a tour with us by calling our main office at (860) 963-6584. Please note that all individuals must complete a Waiver of Liability prior to touring the quarry and must observe all safety rules and procedures.

In order to produce aggregate (sand and stone) used in the construction of new roads, bridges, utility lines, etc., typically a large amount of earth and rock must be excavated. Blasting operations prepare the rock that cannot be removed by other means. The blasting operations break the rock into smaller pieces that can then be handled by construction equipment and hauled away.

Rawson Materials will post on their Facebook page up to a week before a blast is set to occur. The day of a blast the Facebook page will be updated and the Town Manager and Westerly Police Department will be notified of the time of the blast. Rawson also keeps a call list and provides notice of each blast up to 2 hours beforehand; if you would like to be added to Rawson’s call list please contact us at 860-481-7158.

The energy from the blast will sometimes travel through the ground in the form of airwaves. Often the airwaves are what cause you to feel your house shake. Since humans are extremely sensitive to all vibrations you may feel the shaking even though no structural damage is actually occurring.

Rawson Materials subcontracts all of their blasting work to licensed blasting professionals who are required by regulation to continually obtain training. Professional blasters are trained to plan, design, implement and monitor blasts. This training stresses safety in all aspects including protection of your property.  Additionally, the licensed blasting professional must acquire a permit from the State Fire Marshal.
Prior to blasting, our subcontractors perform pre-blast inspections/pre-blast surveys to review the site conditions. The subcontractor also monitors each blast using seismographs and a decibel meter to ensure that the blast is within the limits set forth by federal and state regulations.  Despite federal and state limits, Rawson Materials has also voluntarily adopted levels that are below the regulations with respect to the amount of powder utilized.

In North America, safe vibration standards are based on scientific studies conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM). These studies recommend ground and air vibration limits based on scaled distance, peak particle velocity, air pressure and frequency. The purposes of these standards are to ensure that even cosmetic cracking will not occur in nearby structures. The standards are conservative meaning, even slightly exceeding these standards will not necessarily harm a structure.
For ground vibrations, the standard is a function of frequency and peak particle velocity (ppv). Rhode Island regulations allow for 1.99 ppv at 10 hz or greater.
For air vibrations, the standard is a function of pressure that is most often reported as decibels with a common limit of 133 decibels (db) with a 2Hz system.

No. The federal government, specifically the U.S. Bureau of Mines, has conducted studies where they have vibrated entire houses for several days. Their conclusions have shown that repetitive blasting at allowable standards will not cause damage.

The foundation is the strongest part of a house. Vibration standards are designed to protect the weakest parts of the house, such as plaster and drywall. Ground vibrations strong enough to crack foundations consisting of concrete and masonry would far exceed the limits set by typical standards.
The U.S. Bureau of Mines published RI 8507 in 1987 detailing what happens to a home as a result of ground vibration from surface mine blasting.  The study concluded that typical human activity such as slamming a door or pounding a nail into a wall creates strains in a residence well in excess of those corresponding to typical low-level blast vibrations.

Below-ground structures are confined in the ground and can only move as much as the ground itself moves. They respond less to the ground waves than a house or other buildings above-ground. Therefore, standards that protect houses will also protect below-ground structures.

Pets may be startled by the sound of a blast or warning signal; however, like humans, animals are subjected to a variety of vibration sources and events everyday with no long-term effect.

Rawson is subject to oversight by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Rawson complies with all MSHA regulations in addition to regulations set by the state. Since a majority of Rawson’s plants are located in Connecticut, Rawson complies with Connecticut regulations at all of their plants even though Rhode Island has less stringent regulations.

For blasting, Rawson requires its subcontractors to operate at blasting levels that are proven by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to protect the health and safety of neighbors and employees, as well as the integrity of nearby above ground and underground structures.

Rawson will meet or exceed all applicable requirements related to obtaining and maintaining their air permits. Quality air permits generally require processing plants to utilize best available control technologies (BACT) to control dust and other emissions. The use of BACT, helps to ensure that dust and other emissions from the processing plant will be protective of public health, welfare, property and the environment. Currently, Rawson continuously runs a water truck during hours of operation at each of its locations unless it is raining. In addition to the water truck, Rawson locations use anti-tracking pads to reduce the amount dust being taken off the property by vehicle traffic.  Additionally, much of the plant equipment is equipped with dust suppression apparatus (fog/spray nozzles).

Rawson is obligated to carefully monitor any potential for pollution. Dust and run-off from rainfall and any machinery can and will be mitigated and managed so that it poses minimal impact and no threat to local habitats, including the marine environment. Rawson’s plants are clean, working environments that adhere to stringent regulations to keep it that way.

Mooring space in town waters is limited. If you do not currently have a mooring, apply for the Mooring waiting list. Once a space becomes available in the requested area, that is suitable for your request, you will be notified by the Harbor Master.

Apply for the waiting list on the Online Mooring website https://my.onlinemooring.com/WesterlyRI/home.aspx There is an annual application fee. Persons on the Waiting List must reapply every year.

No. Mooring rentals are not permitted. Moorings may only be occupied by the registered permittee.

No. Mooring permits are issued for the exclusive, personal use of the permittee, for a boat registered in the name of the permittee. If you do not own a boat, you are not permitted to renew a mooring permit.

Moorings must be inspected annually, with a full lift and inspections every three years.

No. Moorings must be installed by an authorized mooring service provider.

Rhode Island law requires all children aged 12 and under to wear a life jacket while on a vessel under 26 feet at all times.

All persons born after January 1, 1986, must receive a safe boating certificate from DEM, if they wish to operate a motor boat with more than 10 horsepower. Courses are available from several sources.

Yes. All persons regardless of age must complete a safe boating course and have their certificate with them at all times, while operating a PWC.