Home Business in Warwick, RI (2026)
3 verified home business rules for Warwick, Rhode Island, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Warwick allows home occupations like sewing, tailoring, or small foster care in any residence district under Zoning Ordinance section 601.3, but caps them at 25 percent of the dwelling's floor area or 500 square feet, whichever is smaller, limits the business to one outside employee, and requires three off-street parking spaces.
Warwick Home Occupation Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsWarwick Zoning Ordinance § 601.3
601.3. Home occupations. Home occupations customarily conducted entirely within a dwelling and/or garage including, but not limited to, custom dressmaking, screen print, tailoring, fabric sewing, foster family care of not more than four children, or office in which goods, wares or merchandise are not commercially created or repaired, are permitted in all residence districts provided that any su...
Signage Rules
Warwick caps signage for a licensed home occupation at six square feet total per lot in residence districts. Only one sign identifying the home occupation is allowed, plus one separate sign for a permitted nonresidential use, and a building permit from the building official is required before any sign goes up.
Warwick Home Occupation Sign Limits
Some RestrictionsWarwick Zoning Ordinance § 806.1
806.1. Residence districts. One of the following types of signs to identify each permitted home occupation and one sign to display the name of a permitted nonresidential use. Such signs may be externally illuminated. The total area of all such signs shall not exceed six square feet on any lot.
Home Daycare
Warwick's zoning ordinance treats a family day care home, capped at six children plus up to eight total individuals receiving care, as a permitted use by right in all four residential districts, the Office district, and General Business, under Table 1's Use Code 704.1 and the definition at Section 200.48.
Warwick Family Day Care Home Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsWarwick Zoning Ordinance § 200.48; Table 1 (Use Code 704.1)
200.48. Day care—Family day care home. Any home other than the individual's home in which day care in lieu of parental care or supervision is offered at the same time to six or less individuals who are not relatives of the caregiver, but may not contain more than a total of eight individuals receiving day care.