Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Rules limiting short-term rentals to a host's primary residence, including documentation required to prove residency and rules against operating multiple listings.
Short-Term Rentals in Rhode Island (2026)
10 rules on the books across Rhode Island, 4 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Short-Term Rental Permits
Whether you need a license or permit to list your property on Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms, and what the application process looks like.
Rhode Island: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsRhode Island requires statewide registration of short-term rental units rented for under 30 nights with the Department…
Read full rule →Warwick
Significant RestrictionsWarwick requires every short-term rental to register annually, designate a local representative within 50 miles, and…
Read full rule →Providence
Some RestrictionsMulti-family and rowhouse units used as short-term rentals in Providence need a one-year temporary use permit under the…
Read full rule →Taxes & Fees
Transient occupancy taxes, tourism fees, and other charges that hosts must collect from guests or pay to the city.
Rhode Island: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsRhode Island taxes short-term rentals at 7% state sales tax and 5% statewide hotel tax, plus a local hotel tax that…
Read full rule →Warwick
Some RestrictionsWarwick charges a flat $250.00 annual permit registration fee for every short-term rental dwelling unit under Zoning…
Read full rule →Occupancy Limits
Maximum number of guests allowed per rental unit, often based on the number of bedrooms or square footage of the property.
Pawtucket
Significant RestrictionsPawtucket's zoning code doesn't have a short-term-rental category by that name; the closest use is "bed-and-breakfast,"…
Read full rule →Warwick
Some RestrictionsWarwick caps short-term rental occupancy at two persons per bedroom under Zoning Ordinance section 510.8, and the…
Read full rule →Host Presence Rule
Whether your city allows only home-sharing (host on-site during the rental) versus whole-home unhosted rentals, and the enforcement process for violations.
Host Platform Liability
When platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) are liable for unpermitted listings, registration-number display rules and platform takedown obligations.