State Airbnb laws2026 27 sources cited

Rhode Island Short-Term Rental Laws & Hotel Tax (2026)

Airbnb is legal in Rhode Island with a $25 state registration for every listing of 30 nights or fewer; towns add their own rules, and guests pay 14% in sales and hotel taxes that Airbnb collects.1,6,7,8

Source: AirROI Reviewed by , Founder @ AirROI Rules checked

From 25 official sources and 1 Airbnb help page. Not legal advice.

The short answer

Rhode Island Airbnb Laws in Brief

  • State registration with the Department of Business Regulation costs $25 a year per property, and the number and expiration date must appear on every listing.
  • Listing without a registration is fined $250 for the first 30 days, $500 for days 31 to 60 and $1,000 after 60 days.
  • Taxes total 14% on stays of 30 nights or fewer: 7% sales tax, 2% local hotel tax, and 5% state hotel tax (rooms) or 5% whole-home tax (entire homes).
  • Towns set zoning and local permits: Newport limits residential-zone rentals to primary residences, and Providence requires a $50 annual permit for a whole dwelling.

At a glance

Rhode Island Short-Term Rental Laws at a Glance

State license required
Yes
Next rule change
Jan 1, 2027

The laws in brief

The rules a Rhode Island host meets first, each linked to the ordinance, statute or official page it comes from. Details and exceptions follow below.

Rhode Island Short-Term Rental Laws at a Glance
TopicRule
PermitState registration for every platform listing1,6
Who can hostThe owner or lessee registers, not the manager7
WhereTowns may not bar platform listings by tax-collecting platforms1
Building rulesTenants: the lease decides7
Minimum stay30 nights is the dividing line1,9
Listing displayRegistration number and expiration date on the listing1
PlatformsPlatforms may not host unregistered properties1,2
SafetyFire and safety rules are set by each town7
InsuranceNo state insurance requirement7
NeighborsNoise complaints go to local police7

Your home

Can You Host an Airbnb in Rhode Island? It Depends on the Home

Whether you can host in Rhode Island turns on whose home it is and whether you live there.

Your own home, rented whole while you're away

Allowed with conditions

Allowed with the $25 state registration and whatever the town requires. Providence needs a $50 annual temporary use permit for an entire dwelling, and Newport allows it in residential zones only when the home is a primary residence.7,15,16,17

A room in your home with you present

Allowed

The most widely allowed form. The state registration still applies (one per unit); Providence needs no temporary use permit when the owner lives there, and Newport allows up to 2 rooms and four people by right when the owner lives in the unit.7,15,16

A second home or investment property you don't live in

Allowed with conditions

The owner registers with the state, but towns narrow this: Newport bars it in residential zones, a new Middletown rental must be owner-occupied and win a Special Use permit, and Westerly requires an owner on site, a licensed broker or a town-resident owner. Providence permits it outside its R-1, R-1A, R-3 and R-4 zones with a temporary use permit.4,7,15,16,21

A rented apartment (tenant hosting)

Allowed with conditions

A tenant can register the unit with the state, but the lease and the landlord decide whether subletting for short stays is allowed, and town rules still apply.7

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU)

Not allowed

Since June 25, 2024 an ADU may not be offered for tourist or transient use or through a hosting platform.7

Permit

Do You Need a License for Airbnb in Rhode Island?

Yes. Rhode Island hosts need the short-term rental registration from the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR), Real Estate Section. It costs $25 in the first year (A host with one home pays $25 a year to the state, plus any town fee, for example $50 in Providence for a whole dwelling, $200 on Block Island or $500 in Westerly.) and $25 a year to renew.1,6,7,8

Who needs it
The owner or lessee of every property rented for 30 nights or fewer that is listed on a third-party hosting platform such as Airbnb or Vrbo, or on a real estate brokerage website. Owner-occupied homes and seasonal rentals are not exempt.1,6,7,8
Issued by
Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR), Real Estate Section
Valid for
One year from the date of issue or renewal; the expiration date appears on the registration, and a registration cannot be transferred to a new owner or property.
Processing
Issued to any applicant who completes every field and pays the fee.
On listings
The number must appear on every listing
Platform checks
Hosting platforms must require the registration number and expiration date on every Rhode Island listing, report their listings to DBR each quarter, and remove an unregistered listing within 14 days of notice from DBR.

Fees

Fees
FeeAmount
State registrationNon-refundable fee for each registered property, payable when the registration is issued.$25
State renewalRenewal fee for each registered property; renewals fall due on the anniversary of the original registration.$25

Who qualifies

  • The owner or lessee registers the property; a property manager or rental agent is not required to.
  • One registration per rental unit; a room or shared space in an owner-occupied home needs one registration per unit.
  • Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) may not be offered for tourist or transient use or through a hosting platform.
  • Where a town has its own registration, the host registers with both the state and the town.

How to apply

  1. Check the town's zoning and local registration rules first; the state registration does not decide whether a rental is allowed locally.
  2. Apply online with DBR as the owner or lessee, giving contact details, the property address, the number of rooms for rent, whether you rent or own, and the intended use (entire space, private room or shared space).
  3. Pay the $25 fee; an applicant who completes every field and pays the fee is issued a registration.
  4. Add the registration number and its expiration date to each listing before it goes live, and renew every year.
  5. Register with the town as well if it has its own registration or permit.

Applications go through the official application page .

Permit rules

State registration for every platform listing
A rental of 30 nights or fewer that is listed on a third-party hosting platform such as Airbnb or Vrbo, or on a brokerage website, must be registered with the Department of Business Regulation.1,6
$25 a year, non-refundable
The state registration costs $25 and lasts one calendar year from issue or renewal. The fee is non-refundable and the renewal fee is also $25.7,8
No exemption for owner-occupied or seasonal rentals
The registration applies to owner-occupied homes and summer-only rentals alike; any rental of up to 30 nights that is advertised on a hosting platform is covered.7
One registration per unit
Each rental unit needs its own registration; in a three-family house with three apartments advertised whole, each apartment is registered separately, while rooms in one owner-occupied unit share a single registration.7,8
Registration cannot be transferred
A registration belongs to one registrant and one property. When ownership changes, the old registration is terminated and the new owner applies for a new one.8
Registration number and expiration date on the listing
No one may list a residence for short-term rental without its current, valid registration number and expiration date, and platforms must require both to be displayed on the listing.1
Platforms may not host unregistered properties
A hosting platform may not conduct business involving a short-term rental property that is not registered, and must remove a listing within 14 days of notice from DBR when the registration lapses.1,2
Quarterly platform reports to DBR
Hosting platforms report their Rhode Island listings to DBR each quarter, with the municipality, room or whole unit, registration number, listing URL and nights occupied for each unit.1,13 In force since January 30, 2025
Register with the town as well
A host whose town has its own short-term rental registration registers with both the state and the town; the state registration is independent of town registration and fees.7
Public registration database
DBR keeps an online database in which anyone can look up a property's registration; it shows only the property address and the registration status.1,7
Airbnb collects the lodging taxes
Airbnb adds the 7% sales tax, 2% local hotel tax and the 5% state hotel or whole-home tax to the guest's reservation, including the cleaning fee.26 In force since January 1, 2026

Who can host

What Rhode Island Cities and Counties Can and Can't Regulate

The owner or lessee registers, not the manager
The property owner or lessee is the registrant. A property manager, rental agent or other third party is not required to register the property, though platforms and brokers should tell clients about the requirement.7
Towns may not bar platform listings by tax-collecting platforms
Cities and towns may not prohibit an owner from offering a unit through a hosting platform that collects and remits Rhode Island sales and hotel taxes, nor prohibit the platform from taking bookings.1
State registration does not decide local legality
The state registration does not make a rental legal in a town; zoning, local registration and other local requirements still apply wherever the law permits them.7
No short-term rental of accessory dwelling units
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) may not be offered or rented for tourist or transient use or through a hosting platform.7 In force since June 25, 2024
Tenants: the lease decides
A long-term tenant can register a unit, but whether the landlord allows subletting as a short-term rental is a private matter between landlord and tenant.7 Applies to: tenants

Local rules

Local Rules in Rhode Island's 8 Largest Airbnb Markets

A state license doesn't replace local rules. Cities and counties still set registration, occupancy, parking and safety requirements. These are Rhode Island's largest markets by active Airbnb listings, with the share of each market's listings that display a registration or license number.

  1. 1. Providence

    Providence County

    Providence defines a short-term rental as a stay of fewer than 28 consecutive nights. In the R-1, R-1A, R-3 and R-4 zones only owner-occupied dwellings may be rented, and an entire dwelling unit needs an annual temporary use permit from the Department of Inspection and Standards for $50. Renting a private bedroom while the owner lives there needs no permit.16,17

    • Entire dwelling units need a temporary use permit, renewed annually, for $50
    • R-1, R-1A, R-3 and R-4 zones: owner-occupied dwellings only; other residential zones allow rentals
    • A private bedroom with the owner present needs no temporary use permit
    • The state registration number and expiration date are needed to apply

  2. 2. Newport

    Newport County

    Newport requires every rental of 30 days or less to be certified as a Transient Guest Facility, on top of the state registration. In residential zones only a primary residence may rent, up to 2 rooms and four people by right, while General Business and Waterfront Business zones permit it. Certificates cost a $15 filing fee plus $500 (home occupation) or $1,000 per unit a year.15

    • Residential zones: only a primary residence; owner-occupied up to 2 rooms and four people by right
    • General Business and Waterfront Business zones permit transient guest facilities
    • Certificate fees: $15 filing, then $500 (home occupation) or $1,000 per unit a year
    • Certificates run June 1 to May 31; apply online by May 31

  3. 3. Narragansett

    Washington County

    Narragansett adopted a separate short-term rental ordinance in 2024 (7-night minimum, with resident and non-resident permit fees), but a court restraining order stopped its implementation. The town registers short-term rentals under its general rental registration instead, at $120 a unit each year, valid September 1 to August 31.18,19,20

    • Annual rental registration of $120 per unit covers rentals under 30 days
    • Registration is due by August 31 and runs September 1 to August 31
    • Failure to register: $250; late fee: $300
    • The 2024 short-term rental ordinance (7-night minimum) is on hold because of court action

  4. 4. Middletown

    Newport County

    Middletown requires every rental of 31 days or less to be registered with the town each year and inspected. A first-time short-term rental must be owner-occupied and win a Special Use permit from the Zoning Board of Review. The registration fee is $55 per bedroom, or $55 per unit where the owner lives on the premises, and occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom.3,21

    • First-time rentals: owner must live on the property and obtain a Special Use permit
    • Annual registration by December 1: $55 per bedroom ($55 per unit if the owner's principal residence)
    • Maximum occupancy two persons per bedroom; one parking space per two persons
    • Exceeding the occupancy limit: fine of up to $1,000 per day

  5. 5. South Kingstown

    Washington County

    South Kingstown requires every rental to be registered annually with the Zoning Official under a rental registration ordinance adopted on October 14, 2025. Rentals of 30 days or less pay $300 per unit; the first deadline was extended from December 31, 2025 to March 31, 2026.22,23

    • Rental registration ordinance adopted October 14, 2025 (Zoning Ordinance Article 5.5)
    • $300 per unit for rentals of 30 days or less
    • First deadline extended from December 31, 2025 to March 31, 2026
    • Registrations are not transferable; unregistered properties face fines and court summons

  6. 6. Westerly

    Washington County

    Westerly allows residential-zone short-term rentals of fewer than 28 consecutive nights only when the rental is managed by an owner living on the property, a licensed Rhode Island real estate broker or a full-time Westerly resident owner. The annual registration fee is $500, and failing to register is fined $500 a day for each day the property is listed plus $500 for each day it is rented.4

    • Management: owner-occupant on site, licensed broker, or owner who is a full-time Westerly resident
    • Annual registration fee $500 for every residential short-term rental
    • Local representative reachable 24 hours a day and responding within one hour
    • Failure to register: $500 a day listed plus $500 a day rented; fines up to $500 a day

  7. 7. New Shoreham

    Washington County

    New Shoreham (Block Island) adopted a short-term rental ordinance on July 24, 2024. Every rental of 30 days or less is registered annually for $200, the registration number must appear in every public posting, and occupancy is two persons per bedroom. A local representative must answer town officials within two hours, and violations are fined up to $200 a day.24

    • Annual registration by December 31: $200
    • Registration number in every public posting, including Airbnb and Vrbo
    • Maximum occupancy two persons per bedroom (age 3 and over)
    • Local representative on the island, responding within two hours

  8. 8. Portsmouth

    Newport County

    Portsmouth requires an owner who rents a whole property for fewer than 31 consecutive days to register with the Town Clerk before any guest arrives, for $130 including the inspection fee. The building official and fire marshal inspect first, and the permit sets a maximum occupancy of two persons per bedroom.25

    • Register with the Town Clerk before any tenant occupies: $130 including inspection
    • Registration valid January 1 to December 31
    • Building and fire inspections before renting
    • Maximum occupancy two persons per bedroom; one parking space per bedroom

Taxes

Rhode Island Short-Term Rental Taxes

14% on the nightly price and cleaning fee: 7% sales tax, 2% local hotel tax, and 5% state hotel tax (rooms) or 5% whole-home tax (entire homes).

Rhode Island Short-Term Rental Taxes
TaxRateCollected by
Rhode Island sales tax 7% of the listing price including the cleaning fee, on stays of 30 nights or fewer7%9,26Airbnb
Whole home short-term rental tax (entire dwellings) 5% of the total charge for a house, condominium or apartment rented in its entirety, from January 1, 20265%9,26Airbnb
State hotel tax (rooms) 5% on a private room or shared space; it replaces the whole-home tax, so no stay pays both5%9Airbnb
Local hotel tax 2% on every short-term stay, up from 1% before January 1, 20262%9,26Airbnb

What the host still handles

  • A sales tax permit from the Division of Taxation (Business Application and Registration form) before renting directly to guests, because a platform collects only on its own bookings
  • Monthly returns for direct bookings: Form RI-STR for the 7% sales tax and Form RI-8478 for the 2% local hotel tax and the 5% whole-home or hotel tax, due on the 20th of the following month
  • In Newport, hotel tax collected on rentals is remitted directly to the City of Newport
  • The separate $25 state short-term rental registration with the Department of Business Regulation, and any town registration9,10,11,26

Operating rules

Operating Rules for Rhode Island Short-Term Rentals

30 nights is the dividing line
State registration and lodging taxes apply to stays of 30 nights or fewer at a time; a stay of more than 30 consecutive nights under a written agreement falls outside the lodging taxes.1,9
Annual human trafficking awareness training
Every operator of a short-term rental property must complete human trafficking awareness training within 180 days of the first listing and by December 31 each year after, adopt a reporting policy and keep training records for DBR.12 In force since January 1, 2026
No state insurance requirement
Neither the statute nor the state regulation requires liability insurance for registration; individual towns may add their own insurance rules.7
Fire and safety rules are set by each town
Fire code and inspection requirements for short-term rentals come from the local fire department rather than from the state registration.7
Noise complaints go to local police
A neighbor with a noise complaint contacts the local police department's non-emergency line; DBR does not handle noise or nuisance complaints.7

Fines

How to Avoid Airbnb Fines in Rhode Island

Fines in Rhode Island fall on hosting without the short-term rental registration, or outside the rules above. With it in hand and the rules followed, none of the fines below apply.

  • Listing a rental on a hosting platform without a state registration: $250 for the first 30 days of noncompliance, $500 for days 31 to 60 and $1,000 for more than 60 days.1,7
  • Hosting platforms that do not require the registration number and expiration date on a listing: $250 per day per violation, with each listing counted separately.1
  • DBR issues a written Notice of Violation assessing these fines; the owner has 20 days to pay and register, or to file a written response.8
  • Westerly: failing to register a residential short-term rental is fined $500 for each day it is listed plus $500 for each day it is rented.4
  • New Shoreham (Block Island): violations of the short-term rental ordinance are fined up to $200 for each day the violation continues.24

Changes

What's Changed in Rhode Island's Airbnb Rules, and What's Next

One change is scheduled after October 20, 2026; the most recent rules are listed first.

  1. January 1, 2027 Upcoming
    Shoreline access disclosure for shoreline short-term rentals

    Senate Bill 2734 (Substitute B), which the Governor signed on June 18, 2026 according to the bill history, requires the owner of a short-term rental on shoreline property to give guests a written shoreline access disclosure, either in the platform listing before booking or in writing before the stay.5,27

  2. January 1, 2026
    Human trafficking awareness training for short-term rental operators

    Under the Human Trafficking Prevention Notice and Training Act, every short-term rental operator must complete training within 180 days of the first listing and by December 31 each year, and keep records for DBR.12

  3. January 1, 2026
    Local hotel tax doubles and a 5% whole-home tax begins

    The local hotel tax rose from 1% to 2% and a new 5% tax began on short-term rentals of entire residential dwellings, bringing the total to 14% on a stay of 30 nights or fewer.9,10

  4. January 30, 2025
    Quarterly platform reporting added

    Amendments to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-63.1-14 took effect on January 30, 2025, adding a duty for hosting platforms to report their Rhode Island listings, registration numbers and occupied nights to DBR each quarter.1,13

  5. June 25, 2024
    Accessory dwelling units barred from short-term rental

    An amendment to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-24-73 took effect on June 25, 2024: ADUs may not be offered or rented for tourist or transient use or through a hosting platform.7

Listing data

What Rhode Island's Listings Show

What officials report

4,752
State short-term rental registrations · as of September 15, 2023DBR reported 4,752 registered short-term rentals as of September 15, 2023, led by Narragansett (976), Newport (539), Middletown (459), Providence (445), South Kingstown (406) and New Shoreham (344).14
8
DBR non-compliance notices issued · as of 2023DBR issued 8 non-compliance notices in calendar year 2023, resolved by registration or de-listing, and assessed no fines.14

Earnings

What Could a Short-Term Rental in Rhode Island Earn?

The rules shape the numbers: a registration that costs $25 in the first year and taxes of 14% that Airbnb adds to guests' bills. For a specific address, the Airbnb profit calculator estimates revenue, occupancy and nightly rate from comparable listings, so you can test the numbers before applying.

Estimate what a home could earn

FAQ

Rhode Island Short-Term Rental Laws: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Airbnb legal in Rhode Island?

Yes. Rentals of 30 nights or fewer are allowed once the property holds a state registration from the Department of Business Regulation, and state law bars towns from prohibiting an owner from listing on a platform that collects the state's lodging taxes. Towns still set zoning, local registration and fee rules.1,6,7

Do I need a permit for Airbnb in Rhode Island?

Yes. Every property listed on a platform such as Airbnb must be registered with the state Department of Business Regulation, and many towns require their own registration or permit as well, for example Providence, Newport, Middletown and Westerly.6,7,15,16

How much does the Rhode Island short-term rental registration cost?

The state registration costs $25 and lasts one calendar year; renewal is also $25. Towns add their own fees, for example $50 in Providence for a whole dwelling, $130 in Portsmouth, $200 on Block Island and $500 in Westerly.4,7,8,17,24,25

Do I need to register with my town as well as the state?

Yes, if the town has its own registration. The state registration is independent of any town registration, and a host must register with both where the town requires it.7

Can I rent a home I don't live in on Airbnb in Rhode Island?

It depends on the town. The state registration has no owner-occupancy rule, but Newport bars non-primary residences in residential zones, a new Middletown rental must be owner-occupied, and Westerly requires an owner on site, a licensed broker or a town-resident owner.4,7,15,21

Does Airbnb collect hotel tax in Rhode Island?

Yes. Airbnb adds the 7% sales tax, the 2% local hotel tax and the 5% state hotel or whole-home tax to the reservation, including the cleaning fee, and remits them. Hosts remain responsible for other tax obligations.9,26

What is the total tax on an Airbnb stay in Rhode Island?

14% on a stay of 30 nights or fewer: 7% sales tax, 2% local hotel tax and either the 5% state hotel tax (a room) or the 5% whole-home short-term rental tax (an entire home). The whole-home tax and the 2% increase began January 1, 2026.9,10

What is the fine for listing without a registration?

$250 for the first 30 days of noncompliance, $500 for days 31 to 60 and $1,000 for more than 60 days. Platforms that do not require the number on a listing face $250 a day per listing.1,7

Do I have to show the registration number on my listing?

Yes. The current registration number and its expiration date must appear on the listing, and platforms must require both. DBR can order a listing removed within 14 days when the registration has lapsed.1

Can I rent out an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on Airbnb?

No. Since June 25, 2024 an ADU may not be offered for tourist or transient use or through a hosting platform.7

Do I need training or insurance to host in Rhode Island?

Operators must complete human trafficking awareness training within 180 days of the first listing and by December 31 each year. The state does not require liability insurance for registration, although towns may.7,12

Can a Rhode Island town ban Airbnb?

Not outright for listings on platforms that collect the state's taxes, but towns control zoning and can restrict who may host. For example Newport allows residential-zone rentals only in primary residences, and Middletown requires first-time rentals to be owner-occupied with a Special Use permit.1,7,15,21

Method

How These Rules Were Checked

Each rule on this page was checked in October 2026 against the official source cited beside it: the ordinance or statute, the permit office's own pages and the tax authority. Airbnb's help pages are cited on their own only for what Airbnb itself does, such as the taxes it collects and the permit checks it runs, and otherwise only beside an official source; news reports only for when a change was announced. Rules that could not be confirmed on an official page are left out. The Middletown Code of Ordinances (American Legal Publishing) and the LegiScan bill history were read in a browser.

Rules change with council votes, court rulings and new state laws, so the page is rechecked every three months and whenever a scheduled change takes effect. It summarizes the rules for information and is not legal advice; the state agency and your city or county has the final word on any application.

Sources

Sources

Each rule above links to the source it comes from. Official ordinances, statutes and government pages come first, then Airbnb's own help pages.

  1. 1. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-63.1-14 - Offering residential units through a hosting platform · Rhode Island General Assembly
  2. 2. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-63.1-14.1 - Properties listed on hosting platform websites · Rhode Island General Assembly
  3. 3. Chapter 98: Short-Term Rental Leases, Code of Ordinances · Town of Middletown (American Legal Publishing)
  4. 4. Chapter 145: Housing Standards, § 145-25 Residential zone short-term rental registration · Town of Westerly (eCode360)
  5. 5. 2026 S 2734 Substitute B: Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (shoreline access disclosure) · Rhode Island General Assembly
  6. 6. Short-Term Rentals · Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
  7. 7. Short-Term Rentals Frequently Asked Questions · Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
  8. 8. 230-RICR-30-20-4 Short-Term Rental Property Registration · Rhode Island Department of State
  9. 9. Notice 2025-09: To all Hotels and Short-Term Rentals · Rhode Island Division of Taxation
  10. 10. The Hotel Industry and Rhode Island Tax: A Guide for Businesses (March 2026) · Rhode Island Division of Taxation
  11. 11. Hotel Tax · Rhode Island Division of Taxation
  12. 12. Human Trafficking Bulletin 2025-1: The Human Trafficking Prevention Notice and Training Act · Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
  13. 13. Real Estate Bulletin 2025-03: Mandatory Reporting for Hosting Platforms · Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
  14. 14. Short-Term Rental Registration (presentation to the Short-Term Rental Commission, September 20, 2023) · Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
  15. 15. Short Term Rental Regulations · City of Newport
  16. 16. Short-Term Rental Regulations in Providence · City of Providence
  17. 17. How to host visitors: Apply to offer Short-Term Rentals in Providence · City of Providence
  18. 18. Rental Registration · Town of Narragansett
  19. 19. Rental Registration (news flash on the short-term rental ordinance litigation) · Town of Narragansett
  20. 20. 2024 Short Term Rental & Regular Rental Ordinance Questions & Answers · Town of Narragansett
  21. 21. Short-Term Rentals · Town of Middletown
  22. 22. Rental Registration Frequently Asked Questions · Town of South Kingstown
  23. 23. Residential Rental Registration (December 31, 2025 notice) · Town of South Kingstown
  24. 24. Short Term Rentals Ordinance · Town of New Shoreham
  25. 25. Short-Term Rental (STR) Information · Town of Portsmouth
  26. 26. Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Rhode Island · Airbnb Help Center
  27. 27. Rhode Island S2734 (2026): bill history · LegiScan