How Rhode Island’s Accelerating Coastal Erosion is Creating New Challenges for Inland Chimney Safety and Inspection Requirements

As Rhode Island faces unprecedented coastal erosion rates in 2025, with the most eroded portions of state’s coastline having lost over 250 feet of beach in just 50 years, the implications extend far beyond beachfront properties. The Ocean State’s unique geography—where every Rhode Islander lives within a 30-minute drive to Narragansett Bay or the Atlantic Ocean—means that coastal changes are creating unexpected ripple effects for inland property owners, particularly regarding chimney inspection requirements and safety standards.

The Accelerating Crisis: Rhode Island’s Coastal Erosion in 2025

Rhode Island’s shoreline definition is being challenged by rising seas, eroding coastlines, and other effects of climate change, with sea level along Rhode Island’s coast having risen 6 inches over the last 40 years. The state’s vulnerability is particularly acute because 50 percent of Rhode Island’s shoreline sediments are susceptible to erosion.

Recent studies reveal that eighty-four percent of the 1,136 coastal points observed between South Dartmouth, Massachusetts and Napatree Point in Westerly are edging inland, with the average annual rate of erosion in Rhode Island being 1.9 feet. This erosion is not gradual—coastal erosion is not a gradual process. It’s episodic, dependent on periodic instances of violent weather. A shoreline may lose two feet in one year, 10 the next.

Infrastructure Under Pressure: The Inland Connection

The coastal erosion crisis is forcing difficult decisions about infrastructure protection and relocation. Decisions about where and when to protect or move coastal infrastructure such as roads, sewers, water mains, recreational infrastructure and neighborhoods are being forced upon us. This infrastructure stress creates a domino effect that impacts inland properties in unexpected ways.

Shoreline change not only impacts beaches and nearby structures, but also affects vital coastal infrastructure, like the roads leading to shoreline properties. As coastal utilities and access roads become compromised, inland properties face increased pressure on their heating and ventilation systems, making proper chimney maintenance more critical than ever.

New Regulatory Landscape and Setback Requirements

Rhode Island’s response to coastal erosion has included updated regulatory frameworks. Shoreline monitoring allows the RI Coastal Resources Management Council to establish, track, and adjust regulatory setbacks from eroding shorelines and planning for public infrastructure and new building construction. These changing setback requirements are creating new compliance challenges for property owners throughout the state.

Distances for setbacks are 30 times the calculated average annual erosion rate for less than four dwelling units, and 60 times the average annual rate for commercial, industrial, or more than four units. As these setbacks expand inland, more properties are falling under coastal regulations that may affect chimney installation and inspection requirements.

Climate Impact on Chimney Systems

Rhode Island’s changing climate patterns are creating additional stress on chimney systems statewide. Much of Rhode Island’s infrastructure was not designed with adequate consideration given to long-term shoreline change and even plans that did consider sea level rise may not have envisioned the increasing rates that we currently see due to more intense coastal storms brought on by climate change.

The increased moisture and storm intensity affecting coastal areas also impacts inland properties. With the increasing rainfall that comes with climate change, Block Island’s bluffs will face more rapid erosion—a pattern that extends to mainland properties where increased moisture can accelerate chimney deterioration through freeze-thaw cycles.

Professional Chimney Inspection: More Critical Than Ever

Given these changing conditions, professional chimney inspections have become increasingly important for Rhode Island homeowners. Chimney inspections look at insulation, the underside of the roof, chimney, venting to ensure systems can handle the increased demands of changing weather patterns.

For Rhode Island residents seeking reliable chimney inspection services, Certified Chimney inspection Rhode Island provides comprehensive Level 1, 2, and 3 inspections throughout the state. Certified Chimney Inspections offers homeowners throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and southern New Hampshire with dependable chimney care, including certified chimney inspection.

As a part of the Providence County community, Certified Chimney Inspections understands the unique challenges facing Rhode Island homeowners. The New England climate can be hard on your chimney. The constant change in temperature year round causes the brick material to break down faster. The long winters are hard on the exterior of the chimney and cause you to use your fireplace or stove more often which makes the inside dirty.

Updated Inspection Standards and Requirements

Rhode Island has recently updated its professional licensing requirements. As of January 1, 2020, the RI Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board began issuing several new professional licenses for the building and construction industries, including home inspectors and associate home inspectors. These enhanced standards ensure that inspection professionals have the requisite skills to address the state’s changing environmental challenges.

The company’s approach reflects these enhanced standards. Certified Chimney Inspections charges a base price of $99.95 for chimney inspections in Rhode Island and always sends two chimney technicians to your residence. When they arrive, they will collaborate to inspect your chimney.

Looking Ahead: Adaptation and Preparation

As Rhode Island continues to face the challenges of coastal erosion and climate change, property owners must adapt their maintenance strategies. With Rhode Island winters, anyone using their fireplace or chimney stove often should get their chimney inspected once to twice a year.

The intersection of coastal erosion impacts and inland infrastructure needs creates a complex landscape for property owners. However, with proper professional inspection and maintenance, homeowners can ensure their chimney systems remain safe and efficient despite the changing environmental conditions. As the state continues to develop its coastal resilience strategies, proactive chimney maintenance becomes an essential component of overall home safety and preparedness.

For Rhode Island homeowners facing these evolving challenges, working with certified professionals who understand both the technical requirements and the unique environmental pressures facing the Ocean State is more important than ever. Regular inspections and maintenance not only ensure safety but also help protect one of your home’s most critical systems against the increasing demands of our changing climate.