Short-Term Rentals in Cranston, RI (2026)
6 verified short-term rentals rules for Cranston, Rhode Island, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Cranston requires STR registration with the Building Inspector's office. The annual fee is $20 per dwelling unit plus a $25 minimum housing inspection fee per unit. Renting a single-family home for under 30 days in certain zones is classified as hotel/motel use and may be prohibited.
Cranston Short-Term Rental Registration
Some RestrictionsNoise Rules
STR guests in Cranston are subject to the same noise ordinance as all residents under Ch. 8.20. Property owners must post noise regulations within the rental unit. The 55 dBA residential limit and amplified sound restrictions apply equally to STR occupants.
Cranston STR Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsTaxes & Fees
Cranston STR operators must collect 7% state sales tax, 5% state hotel tax, 2% local hotel tax, and a new 5% entire-dwelling STR tax (effective Jan 2026). Local registration costs $20/unit plus $25 inspection. Total tax burden reaches up to 19% for whole-unit rentals.
Cranston STR Taxes & Fees
Heavy RestrictionsParking Rules
Cranston requires STR operators to post parking regulations within the rental unit. Guest vehicles must comply with city overnight parking rules. A maximum of two residential parking permits are issued per address, and commercial vehicles are ineligible.
Cranston STR Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsOccupancy Limits
Cranston does not set a fixed numeric guest cap in its STR rules. Instead, the city requires owners to post a notice inside the unit that states the property's dwelling occupancy limits along with rules for noise, pets, trash, parking, and snow removal. Rentals under 30 days are zoned as a hotel/motel use, which is not allowed in every district.
short-term-rentals/occupancy-limits
Some RestrictionsInsurance Requirements
Cranston does not require short-term rental operators to carry a specific liability-insurance minimum, and Rhode Island's state STR statute (R.I. Gen. Laws Section 42-63.1-14) likewise contains no insurance mandate. Hosts must still register with the city Building Inspector and with the RI Department of Business Regulation, but no certificate of insurance is conditioned to either filing.
short-term-rentals/insurance-requirements
Few RestrictionsLooking for Providence County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cranston city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Providence County →