Short-Term Rental Laws in Narragansett, Rhode Island

Narragansett operates a registration + minimum-stay ordinance aligned with the 2024 RI statewide regime. Whole-home non-owner-occupied STRs in single-family residential zones (R-10, R-20, R-40) carry a minimum-stay requirement (often 7-night minimum during peak summer) to discourage party-house disturbance. The town's URI student-rental market created early friction; the STR ordinance is partly designed to enforce a separation between long-term student leases and short-term tourism rentals. Confirm minimum-stay requirements per zone before pricing.

STR allowed across R-10, R-20, R-40 single-family residential, R-MH multi-family, and commercial zones with annual registration. The Pier, Galilee, Bonnet Shores, and Point Judith neighborhoods hold most inventory. Sea Wall and Cliffwalk historic areas have additional setback and parking standards. Single-family residential zones may carry minimum-stay requirements applied seasonally.

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

Narragansett Town Office administers the registration program alongside the RI Dept of Business Regulation. Annual renewal. Application requires proof of insurance, designated 24/7 local contact, life-safety inspection (smoke + CO + fire extinguishers + posted occupancy + parking), and septic certification for non-sewer properties. Operating without registration: administrative fines + cease-rental order + RI state escalation. Minimum-stay violations: separate fines per violation.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Narragansett 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% + Narragansett 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.