Passed April 12, 1878. Buildings exempt. Building districts. First building district, limits of. CHAPTER 688. AN ACT IN RELATION TO BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Buildings and structures belonging to the United States, or to this state, are exempted from the operations of this act. SEC. 2. The city of Providence, for the purposes of this act, is divided into two building districts, and an outer district. The outer district shall be that part of said city not comprised within the building districts. SEC. 3. The first building district shall be all that part of said city lying within the following lines, viz: beginning at the harbor line on the westerly side of the river, one hundred feet south of Point street, and extending westward, holding the distance of one hundred feet south of Point street, to a point one hundred feet west of Chestnut street; then extending northerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet west of Chestnut street, to a point one hundred feet south of Broad street; then extending westerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet south of Broad street, to a point in range of a line drawn one hundred feet west of Fenner street; then northerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet west of Fenner street, to High street, then crossing High street to a point on its northerly side one hundred feet west of Jackson street; then extending northerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet west of Jackson street, to a point one hundred feet north of Washington street; then extending easterly, holding the distance of one hundred feet north of Washington street, to a point one hundred feet west of Aborn street, then holding the distance of one hundred feet west of Aborn street; then extending northerly to a point one hundred feet north of Sabin street, then northerly in a direct line to the easterly corner of Park and Promenade streets, and extending on said Park street one hundred feet; then extending easterly one hundred feet from Promenade street to a point one hundred feet west of Gaspee street; then extending easterly and northerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet north and west of Gaspee street, to a point one hundred feet north of the north line of Smith street; then extending easterly, holding the distance of one hundred feet north of Smith street, to a point one hundred feet east of North Main street, then extending southerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet east of North and South Main streets until the harbor line is reached at the foot of South Main street. district, limits SEC. 4. The second building district shall be all Second building that part of said city lying within the following lines of. and the first building district, viz: beginning at the harbor line on the westerly side of the river at a point one hundred feet south of Henderson street, and extending westward, holding the distance of one hundred feet south of Henderson street, to a point one hundred feet west of Eddy street; then extending northerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet west of Eddy and Hospital streets, to a point one hundred feet south of Lockwood street, at its junction with Hospital street; then running westerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet south of Lockwood street, to a point one hundred feet east of Prairie avenue; then extending southerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet east of Prairie avenue, to a point one hundred feet south of Dudley street; then running westerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet south of Dudley street, to a point one hundred feet south of Friendship street; then extending westerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet south of Friendship street, to a point one hundred feet east of Broad street; then extending southerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet east of Broad street, to a point one hundred feet south of Parkis avenue; then extending westerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet south of Parkis avenue and Cromwell street, to a point one hundred feet west of Dexter street; then extending northerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet west of Dexter street, to a Definitions. point one hundred feet south of Cranston street; then holding the distance of one hundred feet south of Cranston street, to a point in range of a line drawn one hundred feet west of Messer street; then extending northerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet west of Messer street, to a point one hundred feet south of High street; then extending westerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet south of High street, to the west line of Manton avenue; then extending through Manton avenue to a point one hundred feet north of Delaine street; then extending easterly, holding the distance of one hundred feet north of Delaine street, to a point one hundred feet west of Valley street; then extending northerly and easterly, holding the distance of one hundred feet west of Valley street, to a point one hundred feet west of Orms street; thence extending easterly, holding the distance of one hundred feet west and north of Orms street, to a point one hundred feet west of Charles street; then extending northerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet west of Charles street, to a point one hundred feet north of Nichols street; then extending easterly, holding the distance of one hundred feet north of Nichols street, to a point one hundred feet north of Nash lane; then easterly, holding the distance of one hundred feet north of Nash lane, to a point one hundred feet west of Printery street; then northerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet west of Printery street, to a point one hundred feet north of Livingston street; then easterly, holding the distance of one hundred feet north of Livingston street, to a point one hundred feet east of North Main street; then southerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet east of North Main street, to a point one hundred feet north of Olney street; then easterly, holding the distance of one hundred feet north of Olney street, to a point one hundred feet east of Hope street; then southerly, holding the distance of one hundred feet east of Hope street, to Front street; then by a projection of the same line across India street to the harbor line. SEC. 5. In the construction of this act, if not inconsistent with the context, the following terms shall have the respective meanings herein assigned to them, viz: wall." "External wall" shall apply to every outer wall or "External vertical enclosure of a building, other than a party wall. “Party wall" shall apply to every wall used, or “Party wall.” built, intended as a separation of any building from any other building, to be occupied by different persons. "Foundation wall" shall mean that portion of ex-Foundation ternal walls below the level of the street curb, and for walls not on any street, that portion of the wall below the level of the ground outside of the wall. wall." “Partition wall" shall mean any interior wall of "Partition masonry in a building. wall." house." A "tenement house" shall mean and include every "Tenem house, building, or portion thereof, which is intended to be occupied, or is occupied, as the residence of more than three families living independently of one another, and doing their cooking upon the premises, or by more than two families upon a floor, so living and cooking, but having a common right in the halls, stairways, yards, water-closets or privies, or some of them. A "lodging house" shall mean and include any "Lodging house or building, or portion thereof, in which persons are lodged for hire, for a single night, or for less than a week at one time. A "cellar" shall mean every basement or lower "Cellar." story of any building or house, of which one-half or more of the height from the floor to the ceiling is below the level of the ground adjoining. of fire depart spector of duties of. SEC. 6. The chief engineer of the fire department Chief engineer shall, by virtue of his office, be the inspector of build- ment to be inings in the city of Providence, and is charged with the buildings; and duty of executing the provisions of this act, and may depute such duties hereunder to be performed by such of the assistant engineers of his department as he may deem proper. He shall keep a record of his doings; report all violations of this act to the city solicitor for prosecution, and shall annually, and as much oftener as he may be required by the city council, make return to said council of his doings hereunder. To examine buildings under erection. To examine buildings reported dangerous, etc. What alterations and addi ject to this act. The inspector of buildings shall examine all buildings in the course of erection, alteration or repair, as often as practicable, and shall make a record of all violations of this act, together with the street and number where such violations are found, the name of the owner, lessee, occupants, architect and master-mechanics, and all other matters relative thereto. The said inspector shall examine all buildings reported dangerous, or damaged by fire or accident, and make a record of such examinations, including the nature and amount of such damage, with the name of the street and number of the building, the name of the owner, lessee, and for what purpose occupied, and, in case of fire, the probable origin thereof; he shall examine all buildings under application to raise, enlarge, alter or build upon, and make a record of the condition of the same. SEC. 7. Any alteration in or addition to any buildtions are sub ing already erected, or hereafter to be built, except necessary repairs not affecting the construction of the external or party walls, chimneys or stairways, shall, to the extent of such work, be subject to the regulations of this act. Same subject. Notice of intention to build. Of defining line of street, etc. No building already erected, or hereafter built, shall be raised or built upon in such manner that were such building wholly built or constructed after the passage of this act, it would be in violation of any provision hereof. SEC. 8. Every person intending to build, or make. any alteration in the external walls of any structure, any part of which is to be placed upon or within ten feet of any street, square, alley, or lane, shall, before he proceeds to build the same, or to lay the foundation thereof, or to make the said alteration, give notice in writing of such intention and of the proposed location to the city engineer, at least six days before doing any act for carrying such intention into execution, and the city engineer shall notify the inspector of buildings thereof, and within three days after receiving notice, proceed to mark out and define the line of such street, square, lane, or alley, adjoining the estate of the person giving notice as aforesaid, and also to mark the grade |