Short-Term Rental Laws in Block Island, Rhode Island

Block Island (incorporated as the Town of New Shoreham) is one of the East Coast's densest seasonal STR markets — population swings from ~1,400 winter to ~20,000+ summer. The town adopted a registration ordinance aligned with the 2024 RI statewide registration regime. No unit cap, no primary-residence requirement, no zoning-class ban. STR permitted broadly in residential and commercial zones with annual registration. The Old Harbor and New Harbor village cores hold most inventory; some shoreline subdivisions have HOA covenants layered on top.

STR allowed in Residential (RA, RB, RC), Commercial (SC, MC), and Old Harbor / New Harbor Historic districts. Conservation overlay (CO) districts add environmental standards (groundwater protection, wastewater) but do not restrict STR use. Many shoreline and pond-adjacent properties operate under septic-system permits with seasonal occupancy caps tied to the septic engineering — confirm septic permits before maximizing occupancy.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

New Shoreham Town Office administers the registration program alongside the RI Dept of Business Regulation. Annual renewal. Application requires proof of insurance, designated local contact reachable 24/7 (within 25 miles or with on-island representation), life-safety self-certification, and septic-system certification. Operating without registration: administrative fines + cease-rental order + state escalation.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Block Island is approximately 13.000% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

Rhode Island State sales tax 7% + State hotel tax 5% + New Shoreham local option hotel tax 1% — combined ~13% on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.