How to get a short-term rental permit in Providence, RI (2026)

Permit at a glance

Step by step

1. 1

   Confirm your property is eligible

   Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. Zone-dependent. In the R-1A, R-1, R-3, and R-4 zoning districts, properties used as short-term rentals must be owner-occupied (owner considers it their predominant and principal home and spends a majority of the year there). In all other zones where residences are allowed (e.g., R-P, C-1, C-2, C-3, D-1, W-2, M-MU, I-1, I-2), dwellings may be used as STRs without the owner-occupancy condition. Short-term rentals are prohibited in accessory dwelling units (city ordinance and R.I. Gen. Laws 45-24-73), and STR prohibition can be imposed as a condition of certain special use permits. The city defines a short-term rental as occupancy for a fee, by anyone other than the owner, for fewer than 30 consecutive calendar days.

2. 2

   Apply for the Temporary Use Permit

   Submit the Temporary Use Permit application to Providence. The City does not publish a fee for the short-term-rental Temporary Use Permit on its official STR page, in the Zoning Ordinance, or in its permit fee documents; secondary host guides report the city permit has no charge, but this could not be confirmed from a primary source. Separately, the mandatory Rhode Island DBR short-term rental registration costs $25 and is valid for one calendar year.

3. 3

   Register for occupancy taxes

   Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Providence. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.

4. 4

   Renew on schedule

   The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.

Keep going

• Full Providenceshort-term rental rules, taxes & sources
• Providenceoccupancy & lodging taxes explained
• Can I Airbnb in Providence?
• Compare STR permit costs across cities