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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Rhode Island
  6. ·
  7. New Shoreham

New Shoreham

Moderate
Rhode IslandUpdated Mar 29, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

New Shoreham (Block Island) requires all short-term rental hosts to obtain both a Rhode Island State registration and a local Town STR License. The regulations include a strict occupancy limit of two people per bedroom plus two additional guests and require an annual $50 fee.

Restriction level

Severity 18
Classification
Moderate
18
Severity

Why this classification

  • Tenants cannot host
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in New Shoreham (Block Island), you must first register your property with the State of Rhode Island and then apply for a local license from the Town Clerk. You'll need to pay a $50 annual fee and pass a fire safety inspection. Make sure your listing doesn't exceed the occupancy limit (usually 2 people per bedroom + 2 extra) and that you have a local contact person available 24/7. Both the town license and state registration numbers must be displayed on your Airbnb or VRBO listing.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$50
Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1You must have a Rhode Island State STR registration before the Town will issue a local license.
  2. 2A local representative must be available 24/7 to respond to complaints within 2 hours.
  3. 3Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional guests maximum for the entire unit.
  4. 4Parking must be provided off-street according to the number of bedrooms.
  5. 5The Town license number must be clearly displayed in the first line of any online advertisement.
  6. 6Trash must be managed by the host; guests cannot be responsible for taking trash to the transfer station.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility9 rules
  • New Shoreham does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
  • New Shoreham: Trash must be managed by the host; guests cannot be responsible for taking trash to the transfer station.
  • New Shoreham: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Requirements20 rules
  • New Shoreham: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
  • New Shoreham: The Town license number must be clearly displayed in the first line of any online advertisement.
  • New Shoreham: Hosts must report their rental activity annual to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
Application process9 rules
  • New Shoreham: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Completed application, Evidence of RI State STR Registration, Floor plan with emergency exits, Trash management plan, Contact info for local representative.
  • New Shoreham STR permit - Step 3: Fire Inspection. Coordinate with the Block Island Fire Department for a life-safety inspection. Time: 1-2 weeks.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • New Shoreham charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).
Taxes2 rules
  • Rhode Island has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
  • New Shoreham charges a Hotel Tax and Sales Tax of 8%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 7% state sales tax and 1% local hotel tax directly to the RI Division of Taxation.
Limits & restrictions6 rules
  • New Shoreham limits STRs to a maximum of 2 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons total
  • New Shoreham enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
  • New Shoreham: Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional guests maximum for the entire unit.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • New Shoreham requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Emergency exit floor plans must be posted in each bedroom.
Penalties3 rules
  • New Shoreham, RI: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
  • New Shoreham enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $250 per day. Second offense: $500 per day. Third offense: License revocation. Daily fine: $250-$500. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Exemptions3 rules
  • New Shoreham, RI: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • New Shoreham exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).
  • New Shoreham: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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