Thinking about listing your South County home as a short-term rental, or buying a place you can rent for part of the year? The rules shift from town to town, and recent court cases have changed how some ordinances work. You want clear, practical guidance so you can host confidently and protect your investment. In this guide, you’ll learn the statewide requirements, key town-by-town differences, what taxes apply, and a simple checklist to stay compliant. Let’s dive in.
What counts as a short-term rental in Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, a short-term rental generally means lodging offered for 30 nights or less. If you list a property on a third-party hosting platform, you trigger specific state rules. Those rules sit alongside local ordinances, so you may need to comply with both.
State rules you must follow
Register with DBR before you list
If you advertise a Rhode Island property for stays of 30 nights or less on a hosting platform, you must register that unit with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR) before listing. DBR’s guidance explains how the property-based registry works and who should register. You can review the process in the DBR’s short-term rental FAQs.
- See DBR’s guidance: DBR short-term rental FAQs
Show your registration on every listing
State law requires your DBR registration number and expiration date to appear on hosting platform listings. Platforms face penalties if they host unregistered listings, and properties can be fined for noncompliance. Review the statute for details.
- State statute: R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-63.1-14
Follow the ADU restriction
Rhode Island law prohibits offering accessory dwelling units (ADUs) for tourist or transient use on hosting platforms. If you own an ADU, plan for long-term housing use, not short-term lodging.
- ADU statute: R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-73
Know your taxes, including 2026 changes
Short-term rentals are subject to Rhode Island hotel tax and related sales/excise rules. Depending on the platform you use, either the platform or the host may be responsible for collecting and remitting. Starting January 1, 2026, the state created a new 5 percent “whole-home” short-term rentals tax on entire homes or condos rented for 30 days or fewer and increased the local hotel tax from 1 percent to 2 percent. Check the Division of Taxation for implementation details.
- Tax guidance: RI Division of Taxation hotel tax
Town-by-town snapshot: South County
Local rules vary widely. Some towns require a local STR registration, some rely on zoning or special-use permits, and some are adjusting rules due to litigation. Here’s what to know across key South County communities.
North Kingstown (including Saunderstown)
North Kingstown does not publish a dedicated, townwide STR registry page. The town uses zoning, building, and assessor rules to manage uses, and homestead tax status can be affected by short-term leasing. If you plan to rent, contact Building/Zoning and the Assessor to confirm what is permitted on your property and whether any use could affect your exemptions.
South Kingstown
South Kingstown requires an annual Short-Term Residential Rental registration and charges a registration fee. The town has posted timelines and penalties, including a $300 late fee and fines up to $500 for violations. Start with the Building & Zoning page for the latest forms and procedures.
- Town resource: South Kingstown Building & Zoning
Narragansett
Narragansett adopted a comprehensive STR ordinance in 2024 with permits, stay minimums, and caps. However, a court issued orders that put the rules on hold during litigation, so practical enforcement has been in flux. Always check the town’s rental registration page and recent court updates before you rely on the ordinance language.
- Town resource: Narragansett rental registration
Westerly
Westerly requires annual registration for short-term rentals in residential zones. The town provides definitions, safety requirements, and renewal steps on its STR page. Review the process before accepting bookings.
- Town resource: Westerly STR registration
New Shoreham (Block Island)
Block Island adopted an STR ordinance in 2024 with annual registration, occupancy limits of two persons per bedroom by ordinance, a requirement to include the registration number on listings, and a local representative who can respond quickly. Civil fines can reach up to $200 per day per violation. Island rules and enforcement are strict, especially around septic and safety.
- Town resource: New Shoreham STR ordinance
Exeter
Exeter regulates STRs through zoning. A 2025 Superior Court decision upheld the town’s special-use permit requirement for STRs, confirming that towns can use land-use approvals even as state law protects the ability to advertise on hosting platforms.
- Court decision: Hughes v. Town of Exeter (2025)
Hopkinton, Charlestown, and Richmond
These towns do not publish central STR registry pages. STRs are commonly addressed through zoning or special-use permits, with enforcement handled by Building, Planning, and Zoning offices. Call the town’s zoning staff to confirm what is permitted on your parcel and any steps you must take.
Zoning and litigation: what it means for you
Rhode Island’s state law protects the ability to advertise STRs on hosting platforms and requires state registration, but it does not erase local land-use power. Courts have drawn a line between platform advertising rules and zoning.
- In Narragansett, a judge granted a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, finding parts of the town’s 2024 ordinance likely conflicted with state law, which has slowed enforcement while the case proceeds. See the Superior Court orders for context: Narragansett litigation (2024).
- In Exeter, the court upheld a special-use permit requirement, finding the zoning rule did not conflict with state law because it regulated land use, not advertising. See: Hughes v. Town of Exeter (2025).
The takeaway for hosts is simple. You can be required to obtain zoning approvals and local registrations, even if you have a valid state DBR registration for platform listing.
Quick compliance checklist
Use this list to set up or audit your STR in Saunderstown, North Kingstown, and nearby towns:
- Register with the state before listing. If you will advertise on a hosting platform, complete DBR registration and keep your number and expiration date handy. Add both to every listing. Review the steps in the DBR FAQs.
- Confirm your town’s requirements. If you are in South Kingstown, Westerly, or New Shoreham, plan on a local registration. In Narragansett, check the latest on court orders and town updates. In North Kingstown and towns without a registry page, ask Building/Zoning about zoning or special-use permits.
- South Kingstown: Building & Zoning
- Narragansett: Rental registration
- Westerly: STR registration
- New Shoreham: STR ordinance
- Set up tax collection. Confirm whether your platform collects and remits hotel and sales taxes. If not, register with the RI Division of Taxation and prepare for the new 5 percent whole-home STR tax and higher 2 percent local hotel tax starting January 1, 2026. See the hotel tax guidance.
- Do not STR an ADU. State law prohibits listing ADUs for tourist or transient stays on hosting platforms. Review the ADU statute if you are unsure whether your space qualifies as an ADU.
- Build a compliance folder. Include your DBR certificate, any town registration or permit, local representative details if required, safety inspection records, and your tax registration or filings. Keep a listing template with your registration numbers.
- Watch for rule changes. If your town adopts new rules that appear to limit your ability to list, check for updates on court actions. The Narragansett and Exeter cases show that outcomes can differ by town.
The bottom line for South County hosts
Short-term renting in South County is possible and popular, but it is regulated. Plan on a two-step approach. First, meet statewide requirements for DBR registration, listing disclosures, and taxes. Second, confirm your town’s local registration or zoning steps and any safety or occupancy limits. That way, you protect your income stream, stay on the right side of the rules, and keep good standing with neighbors and officials.
If you are weighing a purchase or prepping a property for the market and want local insight on rental potential, taxes, and timing, let’s talk. The Steven Miller Group can help you align your plan with today’s regulations and the local market.
FAQs
Do I need state approval before listing on Airbnb in Rhode Island?
- Yes. If you will list a property for 30 nights or less on a hosting platform, you must register with DBR and include your registration number and expiration date on your listing. See the DBR FAQs.
What short-term rental taxes apply in South County, RI?
- Rhode Island hotel and related sales/excise taxes apply. Starting January 1, 2026, a new 5 percent whole-home STR tax and a higher 2 percent local hotel tax take effect. Check the Division of Taxation hotel tax page.
Are ADUs allowed as short-term rentals in Rhode Island?
- No. State law prohibits offering ADUs for tourist or transient use on hosting platforms. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-73.
What’s the status of Narragansett’s STR ordinance?
- Narragansett adopted an ordinance in 2024, but a court issued orders that paused enforcement while litigation proceeds. Check the town’s page and the 2024 court orders for updates.
Can towns require special-use permits for STRs?
- Yes. A 2025 Superior Court decision upheld Exeter’s special-use permit requirement for STRs, confirming zoning approvals can be required even while state law protects platform advertising. See Hughes v. Town of Exeter.
