Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Washington County, RI

Airbnb listings are allowed in Washington County, RI, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals (STRs) are regulated at the town level and require both state registration with the RI Department of Business Regulation and local municipal registration. Common constraints include annual registration deadlines (Dec 31), occupancy limits (typically 2 persons per bedroom), and the requirement to designate a local representative available to respond to issues within 2 hours. 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.

Short-term rentals (STRs) are regulated at the town level and require both state registration with the RI Department of Business Regulation and local municipal registration. Common constraints include annual registration deadlines (Dec 31), occupancy limits (typically 2 persons per bedroom), and the requirement to designate a local representative available to respond to issues within 2 hours.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Washington County. 1. Register with the RI Department of Business Regulation via the state eLicensing portal. 2. Submit a local registration application through the specific town's online portal (e.g., OpenGov for South Kingstown/New Shoreham or ViewPoint for Westerly/Narragansett). 3. Pay the required annual fee ($100-$200 depending on the town) and include the assigned registration number in all public rental listings.

1. Register with the RI Department of Business Regulation via the state eLicensing portal. 2. Submit a local registration application through the specific town's online portal (e.g., OpenGov for South Kingstown/New Shoreham or ViewPoint for Westerly/Narragansett). 3. Pay the required annual fee ($100-$200 depending on the town) and include the assigned registration number in all public rental listings.

Vrbo is permitted in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.