City of Newport Mooring Waiting List

MAP OF MOORING FIELDS
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

The City of Newport manages 4 individual mooring fields: Main Harbor, Brenton/Ida Spindle and the Point.

Please Note: Brenton Cove and Ida Lewis fields have been combined under one heading.

There are 943 moorings in the City's 4 mooring fields. About one-third of all moorings are classified as "commercial", meaning they are controlled and managed by private companies and individuals who may rent these moorings to the public. The remaining moorings are designated "private", meaning that those locations are held by individuals who have applied for and been granted leasehold status by the City of Newport. These moorings may only for the pleasure of the individual lessee and may not be rented.

In order to create a more orderly application program for moorings, the City instituted a new policy relating to mooring applications.

Applicants are now listed on the various waiting lists without regard to residency. Residency is determined when the Initial Inquiry certified letter is mailed requesting residency information.

Proof of Newport residency is determined by submitting a copy of your driver's license with your Newport address or be an active voter within the City. Newport residents are offered mooring permits at a ratio of 3 to 1 over non-residents.

Applicants who have chosen "First Available" are listed on all 4 of the waiting lists, and must set in the area offered or be removed from the waiting list. If an applicant chooses not to set in the area offered, a new application must be submitted and you will be placed at the bottom of the list.

The Website is updated on a regular basis. New applicants are added in the order of their COMPLETED application. Applications lacking payment or required information cannot be processed. The accuracy of these lists is subject to administrative constraints.

Changes in new placements from the lists are usually made in July through October, depending on an applicant completing the final requirements for securing mooring placement, including setting the mooring as directed by the Harbormaster.

City of Newport- Ordinance

12.28.130. Harbor rules and regulations.

Definitions:

12. "Resident" means any permanent, full-time inhabitant of the city. Proof of residency is required at the request of the harbor master. This shall include a driver's license, voter registration card, previous year's IRS tax return…or other similar item. A post office box is not a legal address for this purpose.

6. "Nonresident" means any individual, business or corporation which does not meet the definition of a resident.

9. "Private mooring" means any mooring registered to an individual and used exclusively for recreational purposes.

He or she must own fifty-one (51) percent or greater of the vessel, have a valid city-approved charter agreement that established the command, control and sole possession of a registered or documented vessel, or be a partner in a registered or documented vessel in a partnership share equal to or greater than all other partners in the registered or documented vessel; which vessel would be placed on the private mooring.

The registered mooring lessee must provide adequate documentation to the harbor master to ensure the validity of ownership, partnership, or charter agreement. If documentation cannot be provided, the vessel shall not be able to utilize the mooring.

Mooring Waiting List Procedures
12.28.130. Harbor rules and regulations.

2. Requests for New Space. All requests for new mooring space shall be made by mailing an application containing all information required, addressed to the Harbor Master, Recreation Department Office, Spring Street Cottage, Newport, RI 02840. All such applications shall contain the following information:

  1. Name, address and telephone (work and home) of applicant;
  2. Size and type of boat;
  3. Overall length of boat;
  4. Breadth of boat;
  5. Draft of boat;
  6. Appropriate registration fee (see subsection D of this section);
  7. An applicant who does not own a boat shall not be eligible for a new mooring.
    Within thirty (30) days after the harbor master has mailed a registered letter to the applicant stating that a new mooring is available, the applicant must accept or decline the mooring. If the applicant accepts the mooring he or she must set the mooring within thirty (30) days of acceptance. In unusual circumstances this latter thirty (30) day period can be extended by the harbor master. A documented hardship relating to the construction or delivery of a vessel or installation of a mooring will be automatically eligible for a six month extension. If the applicant declines the mooring or does not respond to the registered letter, the applicant may choose to have his or her name removed from the waiting list or it will go to the bottom of the waiting list;
  8. Registration fees are nonrefundable when individuals remove their names from the waiting list.
    As of April 15th of each year, the harbor master shall determine the number of moorings available for new mooring space as the sum of all authorized mooring spaces for which acceptable applications for renewal were not received. The harbor master shall maintain a waiting list of qualified applicants for new mooring applications. If the commercial moorings' quota of twenty-five (25) percent has not been reached, commercial mooring applications shall be granted in a ratio of one commercial mooring for every three private moorings, until the quota is reached. New moorings shall be granted in a ratio of three Newport residents to each nonresident.

    No incomplete applications shall be accepted.

3. Relocation Application. A registered lessee who shall need or desire a new location shall file an application containing the information set forth in subsection C.2., of this section, along with the existing mooring space registration number and size and type of boat.

4. Placement.

a. No mooring shall be placed in Newport Harbor without inspection and approval of the harbor master. The harbor master must direct the placement of the mooring.
e. The harbor master is given specific authority to relocate moorings within the harbor based on the size of boats and size or mooring. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the harbor master to relocate a mooring may appeal the decision pursuant to subsection J of these rules and regulations.

FAQ'S

How do I secure a position on the mooring waiting list?

Complete the Mooring Waiting List application from the City webpage with the proper fee, and mail to: City of Newport, Department of Economic Development, 43 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840. Questions may be directed to emulligan@cityofnewport.com or Erin Mulligan 401-845-5489

What is the resident to non-resident ratio in mooring placement?

The placement of residents to non-residents is 3 to 1, per City ordinance. The actual wait depends on a number of variables, especially the desirability of a particular mooring field and resident or non-resident status and availability of moorings which become available in a given year.

How many moorings become available each season?

This number depends on how many mooring lessees surrender their moorings. This is impossible to gauge.

What is the wait time for a mooring?

The section that comes up most frequently is the Point Section, which is running at this time at about 7-8 year wait. For the other mooring fields (Main Harbor, Brenton/Ida & Spindle), an applicant may expect to have a wait of ten years or more.

When and how are you notified when you get to the top of the waiting list and are to be granted an active mooring status?
A certified letter is sent to the mailing address that applicants provide the City with their applications. These letters are mailed out in June. It is the responsibility of the waiting list applicant to notify the Department of Economic Development of any changes in contact information. If the City of Newport is unable to make contact with a potential mooring lessee, the applicant will be removed from the list.
There is a 2-step process for issuing mooring permits:
  • If your name is near the top of a list, you can expect to receive an Initial Inquiry certified letter. This is sent out stating that we may have a mooring permit available but will require action on the applicants' part. If an applicant does not respond to this letter they will be removed from the mooring waiting list. This Initial Inquiry letter will also require proof of Newport residency. Action must be taken within 15 days of receipt of Initial Inquiry letter, or applicant will be removed from the waiting list.
  • Once the Initial Inquiry letters are received, a second certified letter is sent to the applicants that will be offered Mooring Permits. Action is required by the applicant to accept/decline the mooring offering. If action is not taken by the applicant, they will be removed from the waiting list.

The mooring contractor works directly with the Harbormaster for physical placement of moorings. Mooring lessees are responsible for providing their own mooring tackle, the specifications of which are determined by boat weight and length (see ordinance).

I own property in Newport. Can I be considered a Newport resident?

Property ownership alone does not constitute residency. Newport Residents must enclose proof of residency as defined in the Codified ordinance, 12.28.130.12, "Resident" (see above).

When I submitted my Mooring waiting list application I was a non-resident. I have since established residency in Newport. Will I be moved to the resident list?

Applicants are listed in regard to the mooring field selected and by date of application.

When must I renew my mooring permit each year?

Mooring permit renewals are mailed out in the month of January every year. A late penalty fee of $100 will be assessed to any permit renewals received or postmarked after March 15th. If permit renewal applications are not received or postmarked by April 15th, the permit is subject to forfeiture.

LINKS TO MOORING WAITING LISTS [updated May 28, 2010]
Main Harbor | Brenton/Ida | Spindle | Point
Mooring Waiting List Application [October 2009 Update]



The City of Newport, Rhode Island | City Hall | 43 Broadway | Newport, RI 02840 | 401-845-5300