Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Providence?

**Yes**, you need a Short-Term Rental Registration to operate legally in Providence. You need to register with both the State of Rhode Island and the City of Providence. The city registration costs $50 annually. Make sure to complete this process before hosting guests.

What is the TOT tax rate in Providence?

**1% TOT** is the current tax rate for short-term rentals in Providence, Rhode Island. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city. It is important to keep accurate records of all transactions to ensure compliance with local tax regulations.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Providence?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Providence, but with restrictions. You must live in the property as your primary residence for at least 183 days per year. If you are not present during the rental period, you are limited to a maximum of 90 rental nights per year.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Providence?

**Yes**, Providence requires that you live in the property you are renting out as your primary residence. This means you must reside there for a minimum of 183 days each year. This rule effectively prohibits using investment properties as short-term rentals in most residential zones.

Providence

Prohibited

STRs Allowed

Rhode IslandLast updated: February 10, 2026

Baseline Verification

60%

Basic verification complete

Verified: Jan 30, 2026

4 Official Sources

Summary

Short-term rentals in Providence are strictly limited to primary residences where the owner lives for at least 183 days per year. Hosts must obtain both a State of Rhode Island registration and a City of Providence registration, with a cap of 90 nights per year for unhosted rentals.

Restriction Level

🚫

Prohibited

Score: 100 (lenient)

Why this classification:

•Primary residence required
•Owner-occupied required
•Moderate night cap: 90 nights/year
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Tenants cannot host
•Permit required
•Reporting required

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in Providence, you must be the owner of the home and live there as your primary residence. You cannot rent out an investment property or a second home as a short-term rental in most residential zones. You'll need to register with both the state and the city, pay an annual $50 fee, and pass a local safety inspection. If you aren't home while guests are staying, you are limited to 90 nights of rentals per year.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

90/year

Primary Residence

Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$50

Processing Time

2-4 weeks

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.You MUST be a registered voter at the address to prove primary residency.
2.Non-owner occupied STRs are almost entirely prohibited in residential (R) zones.
3.You must register with the State of Rhode Island BEFORE applying for the city permit.
4.Unhosted stays are capped at 90 nights per year; hosted stays have no night cap.
5.ADUs and illegal basement apartments cannot be used for short-term rentals.
6.Maximum occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2, maxing out at 10.
7.The 1% city hotel tax is usually collected by platforms, but hosts are responsible if the platform fails to do so.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(5)

•Providence: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
•Providence allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Two-family, Three-family, Semi-detached, Multi-family (in allowed zones).
•Providence: ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) are now prohibited from being used as STRs per recent 2024 state law updates.

Requirements(17)

•Providence has different permit classes: Entire Dwelling Unit vs. Private Room (exempt). Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
•Providence: Hosts must report their rental activity monthly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
•Providence: Owner-occupancy is strictly required in R-1, R-1A, R-2, and R-3 zones.

Application Process(8)

•Providence STR permit - Step 1: State Registration. Register the property with the RI Department of Business Regulation (DBR) and obtain a state registration number. Required documents: Ownership info, Contact info. Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 25.

Taxes(3)

•Providence charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 8%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: 7% State Sales Tax + 1% Local Hotel Tax. Rates scheduled to increase Jan 1, 2026.
•Providence: A massive tax increase (adding a 5% Whole Home tax) is scheduled for January 1, 2026.
•Rhode Island has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & Restrictions(3)

•Providence enforces quiet hours: Subject to city noise ordinance..
•Providence limits stays to a maximum of 27 nights.
•Providence occupancy calculation: Occupancy limits apply based on building code standards.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Providence requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, Exit diagrams in English and Spanish must be clearly visible., Compliance with Rhode Island Uniform Fire Code..

Penalties(4)

•Providence enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Maximum fine: $13,000 per month (potential). Permit may be revoked for violations.
•Providence: The city aggressively enforces owner-occupancy rules with fines up to $500 per violation.
•Providence: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions(3)

•Providence exempts the following from STR regulations: hosted rentals (where host is present), long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Private bedroom rentals where the owner is present during the stay do not require a Temporary Use Permit..
•Providence: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

0.1% total tax

Providence

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(5)

Requirements(17)

Application Process(8)

Taxes(3)

Limits & Restrictions(3)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(4)

Exemptions(3)

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Providence

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Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Providence?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Providence?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Providence?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Providence?

5How many nights per year can I rent my property in Providence?

Related Content

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Newport

Watch Hill (Town of Westerly)

Westerly

Kingston