Accessory Structures in Pawtucket, RI (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Pawtucket, Rhode Island, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Pawtucket allows one accessory dwelling unit as a permitted use in every residential zoning district through an administrative building permit, no board hearing required, under a 2024 ordinance amendment. Studio or one-bedroom ADUs top out at 900 square feet, two-bedroom units at 1,200 square feet, and every ADU must meet the principal home's setback and height limits.
Pawtucket Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsPawtucket City Code § 410-46B(3), (4)(a)
Permitted zones: Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, one accessory dwelling unit that meets the requirements of RIGL § 45-24-31 and 45-24-73(a) shall be a permitted use in all residential zoning districts. An ADU which meets the requirements of RIGL §§ 45-24-31 and 45-24-73(a) shall be permitted through an administrative building permit process only. ... Maximum size: ... A stu...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Pawtucket flatly prohibits renting an accessory dwelling unit for tourist or transient use, including through a hosting platform like Airbnb. The ban was written directly into the 2024 ADU ordinance rewrite and borrows its key terms from Rhode Island's hosting-platform tax statute.
Pawtucket Bars Short-Term Rental of ADUs
Significant RestrictionsPawtucket City Code § 410-46B(7)
ADUs shall not be offered or rented for tourist or transient use or through a hosting platform, as such terms are defined in RIGL § 42-63.1-2.
Shed & Carport Rules
Pawtucket lets a shed under 100 square feet sit on a residential lot even below the 5,000-square-foot minimum that governs other accessory uses. A detached shed or garage must stay in the rear yard, at least 4 feet from any lot line, and cannot exceed one story, 15 feet in height, or 24 feet in depth and width.
Pawtucket Shed Size and Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsPawtucket City Code § 410-46A(1), (6)
No accessory use, other than required off-street parking, a private garage and a shed of less than 100 square feet, shall be located on any lot having an area of less than 5,000 square feet. ... A detached garage or shed may be located in the required rear yard, but not less than four feet from any lot line. A detached garage located within a rear yard may have its driveway within the required ...
Garage Conversions
Pawtucket lets homeowners convert an existing garage or workshop into an accessory dwelling unit, but the converted space must meet every ADU standard in § 410-46B, plus building code compliance and permits, before anyone can live there. There is no separate, lighter track for conversions versus new construction.
Pawtucket Garage-to-ADU Conversion Rules
Some RestrictionsPawtucket City Code § 410-46B(6)
Conversion of existing structures. (a) Conversion: Existing accessory structures, such as garages or workshops, may be converted into ADUs provided they meet the requirements of this section. (b) Compliance: All conversions must comply with building codes and obtain necessary permits.