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

**Yes**, Westerly requires a Short-Term Rental Registration. You need to apply for a local permit with the Westerly Town Clerk for a $75 annual fee. Furthermore, you must first register your property with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation to obtain your state number before local registration. (54 words)

What is the TOT tax rate in Westerly?

**0.08%** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Westerly. Hosts are generally responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the appropriate authority. However, booking platforms may automatically collect a portion of this tax in certain jurisdictions, so check with the platform. (51 words)

Are short-term rentals allowed in Westerly?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are permitted in Westerly, Rhode Island, provided that operators comply with all local and state regulations. You must register your property with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation and obtain a local permit from the Westerly Town Clerk. Rentals are limited to 30 days or fewer. (50 words)

How much does an STR permit cost in Westerly?

**$75** is the annual fee for a Short-Term Rental Registration permit in Westerly. You need to apply for this local permit with the Westerly Town Clerk after first registering your property with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. In addition, you're required to have at least $500,000 in liability insurance. (52 words)

Can renters host on Airbnb in Westerly?

**No**, renters are generally not permitted to host on Airbnb in Westerly without the explicit consent of the property owner. You must own the property and comply with all local and state regulations, including registration with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation and obtaining a local permit. (50 words)

Westerly, RI Short-Term Rental Laws...

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Verified: Jan 30, 2026

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Summary

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. Rentals are limited to 30 days or fewer and must comply with specific occupancy limits based on bedroom count.

Restriction Level

⚠️

Moderate

Score: 18 (restrictive)

Why this classification:

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

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in Westerly, you must first register your property with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. Once you have your state number, you must apply for a local permit with the Westerly Town Clerk for a $75 annual fee. You are required to have at least $500,000 in liability insurance and must post your local permit number on your Airbnb listing. Taxes are generally handled by the booking platforms, but you are responsible for ensuring your occupancy does not exceed two people per bedroom plus two additional guests.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$75

Processing Time

2-4 weeks

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.You must have a state-level RI registration BEFORE applying for the Westerly town permit.
2.Westerly requires a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance specifically for rental use.
3.A local property manager or contact person must be available 24/7 and live within 25 miles of the property.
4.Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2 extra; exceeding this is a code violation.
5.Westerly enforces a $500 PER DAY fine for operating without a valid registration.
6.Verify your property is not in an area with private HOA restrictions, which the town permits to be more restrictive than town code.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(6)

•Westerly allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Two-family, Three-family, Multi-family, Accessory building.
•Westerly does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
•Westerly: Sub-leasing for STR purposes is prohibited unless the property owner is a direct party to the agreement.

Requirements(13)

•Westerly requires STR registration. The permit is called "Residential Zone Short-term Rental Registration". Apply through Town Clerk / Police Department. Processing time: Variable. Renewal is required.
•Westerly: Property must be managed by an owner-occupant, a full-time Town resident, or a licensed RI Real Estate Broker.

Application Process(7)

•Westerly STR permit - Step 3: Complete Westerly Town STR Registration. Apply through the ViewPoint Cloud portal for the town-specific permit. Required documents: Local representative contact info, DBR #, Management designation. Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 500.

Fees & Costs(2)

•Westerly charges a registration fee of $500 (annual).
•Westerly: Registration fee is $500 annually—one of the highest in the state.

Taxes(3)

•Westerly charges a Sales and Local Hotel Tax of 8%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Platforms like Airbnb remit the 7% sales and 1% local tax for whole-home rentals.
•Rhode Island has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & Restrictions(4)

•Westerly limits stays to a maximum of 28 nights.
•Westerly enforces quiet hours: Regulated by Chapter 171 (Noise)..
•Westerly occupancy calculation: Limited by septic and health safety standards as per Housing Code Ch 145.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
•Westerly: Verify if your property is within the Town of Westerly limits or in unincorporated Washington County (rules differ).

Safety Requirements(1)

•Westerly requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Thorough cleaning between guests required, Clean sheets and towels required, Trash and noise ordinance compliance.

Penalties(3)

•Westerly: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
•Westerly enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $250 for first 30 days of non-compliance. Second offense: $500 (31-60 days). Third offense: $1,000 (over 60 days). Maximum fine: $1,000. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions(2)

•Westerly: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
•Westerly exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Hotels/Motels/Guesthouses (Regulated under Ch 141).

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Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched 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.

Westerly

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Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(6)

Requirements(13)

Application Process(7)

Fees & Costs(2)

Taxes(3)

Limits & Restrictions(4)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(3)

Exemptions(2)

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Step-by-Step Application Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Westerly

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Westerly?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Westerly?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Westerly?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Westerly?

Related Content

Other Rhode Island Markets

Newport

Watch Hill (Town of Westerly)

Providence

Kingston