Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Kent County, RI

Airbnb listings are allowed in Kent County, RI, but with restrictions. State law requires registration for any property advertised on a third-party hosting platform and municipalities may impose local rules; e.g., Warwick permits STRs in specified zoning districts only, requires a local representative within 50 miles, annual inspections (building and fire), occupancy limits (maximum two persons per bedroom and limited by OWTS), and posting of the permit and 24/7 contact information inside the unit. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

State law requires registration for any property advertised on a third-party hosting platform and municipalities may impose local rules; e.g., Warwick permits STRs in specified zoning districts only, requires a local representative within 50 miles, annual inspections (building and fire), occupancy limits (maximum two persons per bedroom and limited by OWTS), and posting of the permit and 24/7 contact information inside the unit.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Kent County. 1) Register the property with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation via the eLicensing portal (state registration fee $25; registration valid one calendar year). 2) If the property’s municipality requires a local permit (e.g., Warwick), apply to the municipality’s permitting/Building Department portal, submit the owner affidavit and registration form, pay any municipal fee (Warwick ordinance states $250/year), and arrange required annual inspections by the Building Official and Fire Marshal. 3) Post the issued permit and 24/7 contact info in the unit and maintain renter records as required.

1) Register the property with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation via the eLicensing portal (state registration fee $25; registration valid one calendar year). 2) If the property’s municipality requires a local permit (e.g., Warwick), apply to the municipality’s permitting/Building Department portal, submit the owner affidavit and registration form, pay any municipal fee (Warwick ordinance states $250/year), and arrange required annual inspections by the Building Official and Fire Marshal. 3) Post the issued permit and 24/7 contact info in the unit and maintain renter records as required.

Vrbo is permitted in Kent County, RI under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Kent County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Kent County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.