Warwick, RI Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Warwick, RI, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Registration deadline
- December 31 annually, valid through Dec. 31
- Registration fee
- $250 per dwelling unit, per year
- Local representative
- Must live within 50 miles of property
- Occupancy cap
- 2 persons per bedroom, septic-rated bedrooms
- Maximum fine
- $500 per day, per §510.11
- Enforcement venue
- Warwick Municipal Court
Summary
Warwick requires every short-term rental to register annually, designate a local representative within 50 miles, and obtain a permit from the building official before renting, plus pass an annual inspection covering smoke detectors, occupancy limits, and parking, under Sections 510.4 through 510.8 of the zoning ordinance.
510.4. Registration and inspection required; permit. (A)Each owner of a short-term rental property shall designate on a registration form filed under this chapter a local representative whose physical address of their primary residence is within 50 miles of the registered short-term rental property to serve as the local representative... (B)The owner or local representative shall obtain a short-term rental permit in accordance with section 510.6 and 510.7... (D)After applying for the short-term rental permit, the dwelling unit shall be subject to annual inspection by the building official or his/her designee and the fire marshal.
Full Breakdown
7 before renting begins. Rentals must also be registered with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation before any tenant occupies the unit. After applying, the dwelling is subject to an annual inspection by the building official and the fire marshal to set the occupancy limit, confirm smoke and CO detectors meet the State Fire Code, and check off-street and on-street parking. 7 sets the registration fee at $250 per dwelling unit per year. 8 caps occupancy at two persons per bedroom, limited further by the number of bedrooms the property's septic system is rated to support.
2 bars several categories outright, including accessory dwelling units, accessory structures, deed-restricted affordable units, and any unit with two or more nuisance-related violations in the prior 12 months.
Violations & Fines
Renting without a valid permit, skipping the required annual inspection, or violating any Section 510 condition is enforceable by a zoning enforcement summons heard in Warwick Municipal Court under Section 510.11. Violations carry a fine of up to $500 per day, and two violations at the same property trigger permit revocation, barring a new permit for that property for 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Warwick require a permit before renting out a home short-term?
How much does a Warwick short-term rental permit cost?
What triggers an inspection of a Warwick short-term rental?
Can a Warwick short-term rental permit be revoked?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Warwick
How Warwick compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Warwick to another location·View the Rhode Island short-term rentals overview
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