Short-Term Rental Regulations in Rhode Island

State Overview
Rhode Island does not preempt local STR regulation, but it layers a statewide requirement on top of local rules. Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-63.1-14, any short-term rental listed on a third-party hosting platform that does business in Rhode Island must be registered with the Department of Business Regulation (DBR). As of January 30, 2025 the DBR registration costs $25 and is valid for one year (renewal $25); listings must display the DBR registration number and expiration date. Cities such as Providence add their own permitting and zoning rules on top of the statewide DBR registration. Lodging is taxed statewide: effective January 1, 2026 a whole-home short-term rental is subject to 7% state sales tax, a 5% whole-home short-term rental tax, and a 2% local hotel tax (14% total); single-room rentals are taxed at 7% sales + 5% state hotel + 2% local (also 14%). The state imposes a 14% combined state sales and lodging tax (7% sales + 5% hotel/STR + 2% local) in addition to any local taxes.

Cities in Rhode Island

City Permit Tax Rate Day Limit Primary Res.
Newport ✓ Required 14% No limit Varies →
Providence ✓ Required 14% No annual cap · per-stay limit Required →

Rhode Island's STR Landscape

Rhode Island does not have a uniform STR framework, leaving regulation to individual municipalities. The state imposes a 14% combined state sales and lodging tax (7% sales + 5% hotel/STR + 2% local) in addition to local taxes.

Popular Short-Term Rental Markets

High-demand markets in other states — compare their permit, tax, and day-limit rules:

Other States

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