Rhode Island short-term rental regulations

Rhode Island · The Ocean State8 markets coveredUpdated Apr 6, 2026

Restriction mix8 markets

Prohibited2 · 25%

Strict1 · 13%

Moderate5 · 63%

Permissive0

Sort

Prohibited

Banned or owner-occupied only

2 markets

STRs are banned outright or limited to owner-occupied stays only.

Newport

Rhode Island

Prohibited

The City of Newport requires all short-term rentals to register annually with the City Clerk and the State of Rhode Island.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Providence

Rhode Island

Prohibited

Short-term rentals in Providence are strictly limited to primary residences where the owner lives for at least 183 days per year.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $500.1% tax

Strict

Heavy restrictions apply

1 market

Heavy regulation: caps, primary-residence rules, lottery permits, or night limits.

Warwick

Rhode Island

Strict

Short-term rentals in Warwick are limited to owner-occupied dwelling units in specific residential and village zones and require annual registration with both...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $2500.1% tax

Moderate

Permit required · STRs broadly allowed

5 markets

Permit + tax registration required; otherwise STRs are broadly allowed.

Watch Hill (Town of Westerly)

Rhode Island

Moderate

Short-term rentals in Watch Hill are regulated by the Town of Westerly under Chapter 214 of the Municipal Code.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $500.1% tax

Westerly

Rhode Island

Moderate

The Town of Westerly requires all short-term rental operators to register both with the state of Rhode Island and the local Town Clerk's office.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $750.1% tax

Kingston

Rhode Island

Moderate

The Town of South Kingstown requires all short-term rentals to register with the Town Clerk and the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $500.1% tax

New Shoreham

Rhode Island

Moderate

New Shoreham (Block Island) requires all short-term rental hosts to obtain both a Rhode Island State registration and a local Town STR License.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $500.1% tax

Cranston

Rhode Island

Moderate

Short-term rentals in Cranston are subject to both statewide registration with the DBR and local registration with the Building Inspector, while zoning laws...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $200.1% tax

Rhode Island short-term rental regulations

Banned or owner-occupied only

Newport

Providence

Heavy restrictions apply

Warwick

Permit required · STRs broadly allowed

Watch Hill (Town of Westerly)

Westerly

Kingston

New Shoreham

Cranston

Neighboring states & common comparisons