Short-Term Rental Laws in Providence, Rhode Island

Providence requires owner-occupied STRs to comply with the city's home-share registration. Non-owner-occupied (investor) STRs are prohibited in residential zones (R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-P) and limited to commercial zones (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-S, D-1, D-2, M-MU). The 2024 ordinance was driven by housing-affordability pressure following university-driven rental demand (Brown, Providence College, RISD, Johnson & Wales). Multi-family buildings additionally require landlord consent. Rent-stabilized or subsidized housing units cannot be used as STRs.

Owner-occupied home-share: allowed in R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-P residential zones with primary-residence test. Non-owner-occupied: only in C-1, C-2, C-3, C-S, D-1, D-2, M-MU commercial and downtown districts. Federal Hill, Fox Point, College Hill, and Wayland Square residential neighborhoods cannot host new non-owner-occupied STRs. The Downtown (D-1, D-2) and Jewelry District commercial zones can. Confirm parcel zoning via Providence Department of Planning & Development.

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

Providence Department of Inspection & Standards administers the program alongside the RI Dept of Business Regulation state registration. Annual renewal with primary-residence re-verification for home-share permits. Operating without registration: administrative fines + cease-rental order + state escalation. The city actively cross-references Airbnb/Vrbo listings against the registry.

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