Cranston, RI Local Taxes & Fees: Business Tax Classification (2026)
Key Facts
- Number of classes
- Four
- Commercial/industrial real estate
- Class 2
- Business personal property
- Class 3
- Max rate spread between classes
- 50 percent
- Enacted by
- Ord. 03-22 § 1
Summary
Cranston Code of Ordinances § 3.16.040 sorts taxable property into four classes: commercial and industrial real estate is Class 2, and all ratable business personal property is Class 3, with the rate spread between any two classes capped at 50%.
Upon completion of any comprehensive revaluation, the tax assessor will adopt a tax classification plan with the following limitations:
1. The designated classes of property shall be limited to four classes as defined herein.
2. The effective tax rate applicable to any class shall not exceed by fifty (50) percent the rate application to any other class.
3. Any tax rate changes from one year to the next shall be applied such that the same percentage rate change is applicable to all classes.
4. Notwithstanding subsections (A)(2) and (A)(3) above, the tax rates applicable to wholesale and retail inventory within class 3 as defined below.
5. Notwithstanding subsections (A)(2) and (A)(3) above, the tax rates applicable to motor vehicles within class 4 as defined below.
B. Classes of Property.
1. Class 1: Residential real estate consisting of no more than five dwelling units, land classified as open space, and dwellings on leased land.
2. Class 2: Commercial and industrial real estate, residential properties containing partial commercial business uses and residential and residential real estate of more than five units.
3. Class 3: All ratable tangible personal property.
4. Class 4: Motor vehicles and trailers subject to excise tax. (Ord. 03-22 § 1)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4824304; v14 updated 2026-05-18).
Full Breakdown
After a comprehensive revaluation, Cranston's tax assessor adopts a classification plan limited to four property classes. Class 1 covers residential real estate of five units or fewer; Class 2 covers commercial and industrial real estate plus mixed-use residential property; Class 3 covers all ratable tangible personal property, including business equipment and inventory; Class 4 covers motor vehicles and trailers subject to excise tax. The effective tax rate on any class cannot exceed the rate on any other class by more than 50%, and any year-to-year rate change must apply the same percentage across all classes, with limited carve-outs for wholesale/retail inventory and motor vehicles.
Violations & Fines
This is a classification and rate-cap rule, not a penalty provision; no fine is specified. It binds the tax assessor when setting annual class rates after a citywide revaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tax class covers Cranston business property?
Can Cranston tax business property at a much higher rate than homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cranston
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Business Tax Classification in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle business tax classification.