Short-term rentals in Rhode Island local government
What Rhode Island city councils, county boards and school districts are deciding about short-term rentals — plain-English summaries written from official agendas and minutes, updated as meetings happen.
67 Rhode Island meetings since 2024 covered short-term rentals. Counts are directional — coverage varies by place and platform.
Places in Rhode Island with the most short-term rentals activity
- Jamestown, RI (24)
- Middletown, RI (22)
- Westerly, RI (7)
- Exeter, RI (4)
- Lincoln, RI (3)
- Portsmouth, RI (1)
- North Kingstown, RI (1)
- South Kingstown, RI (1)
- City of Newport, RI (1)
- Smithfield, RI (1)
- New Shoreham, RI (1)
- Newport, RI (1)
Latest matching meetings
Zoning Board to review short-term rentals and brewery proposal
The Zoning Board of Review will consider several variance and special use petitions. These include requests for short-term rentals, a brewery with a tasting room, and signage and structure setbacks.
Zoning Board hears 9 petitions: variances, signs, brewery, short-term rentals
The Middletown Zoning Board of Review will hold public hearings on nine petitions, including three continued from prior meetings and six new ones. Items include requests for variances to build sheds and home additions, a special use for a larger sign, a brewery with retail sales, and several owner-occupied short-term…
Council to discuss short-term rental registration ordinance and zoning amendments
The Westerly Town Council is holding a regular meeting with no public hearings scheduled. The main item is a discussion and possible action on the Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance, including zoning amendments and related maps. The consent calendar includes routine approvals of minutes, tax roll adjustments…
Council to weigh school bond process, STR ordinance update, and vehicle purchases
The Portsmouth Town Council will hold a regular meeting with an executive session for litigation and real property matters, followed by an open session. Key discussions include reviewing the process for a proposed school bond, updating the short-term rental ordinance, and approving several financial items. The agenda…
Zoning board approves two short-term rentals, defers sign variance
The Middletown Zoning Board of Review met on July 28, 2026, and approved two owner-occupied short-term rental special use permits, continued two petitions to the next meeting, and discussed but deferred a sign variance request. The board also approved a summary petition for a front deck variance.
Zoning Board to hear 6 petitions including variances, short-term rentals, and a sign
The Middletown Zoning Board of Review will meet July 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM in Town Hall Chambers. The agenda includes roll call, adoption of June 23 minutes, and six petitions: one continued variance for a shed at 146 Oliphant Lane, one new variance for a deck at 11 Philips Avenue, two new special-permit requests for…
Westerly Council to weigh data center moratorium, water rates, business fees
The Westerly Town Council will hold public hearings on three proposed ordinances: setting water rate schedules for 2026-2027, amending business registration fees and procedures, and imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers. The council will also consider authorizing local ballot questions on charter revisions…
Council to consider data center moratorium, water rates, charter questions
The Westerly Town Council will hold public hearings on three proposed ordinances: setting water rate schedules for 2026-2027, amending business registration fees and procedures, and imposing a one-year moratorium on all data centers. Under new business, the council will discuss and possibly vote on placing charter…
Middletown Zoning Board approves several residential variances and short-term rentals
The Zoning Board of Review heard multiple petitions for residential property variances and special use permits. The board approved several additions, decks, and sheds, as well as two owner-occupied short-term rental requests.
Zoning Board to review variance requests and short-term rental applications
The Zoning Board of Review will consider several petitions for dimensional variances to allow for home additions, decks, and sheds. The board will also review special use requests for owner-occupied short-term rentals.
Zoning Board approves multiple short-term rental and variance requests
The Middletown Zoning Board of Review approved five petitions, including owner-occupied short-term rentals and a shed expansion, while continuing several other requests to a future meeting.
Town Council to vote on resolution opposing Quonset biosolids facility
The Jamestown Town Council will hold a regular meeting with executive sessions for pending litigation and collective bargaining, followed by open session. Key items include a public hearing on proposed water and sewer rule amendments, a resolution opposing a biosolids processing facility at Quonset, and a continued…
Council to vote on resolution opposing Quonset biosolids facility
The Jamestown Town Council will hold a public meeting with executive sessions for litigation and collective bargaining, followed by open session items including water/sewer matters, public hearings, and several votes. Key actions include a resolution opposing a proposed biosolids processing facility at Quonset…
Town Council to vote on $30M additional bond for new Wickford Middle School
The North Kingstown Town Council will consider a resolution to appropriate an additional $30 million for school facilities, including a new Wickford Middle School, and award contracts from a prior $20 million appropriation. The agenda also includes a presentation on short-term rental regulations, an update on the…
Zoning Board approves variance for 565 Wolcott Ave and STR permits on Wolcott Ave
The Middletown Zoning Board of Review approved three petitions: a dimensional variance for 565 Wolcott Avenue, a special use permit to add a bedroom to a short‑term rental at 559 Wolcott Avenue, and a special use permit with a variance for an addition at 137 Ellery Avenue. A fourth petition for an owner‑occupied…
Town Council to consider sewer bill relief requests and water/sewer rule changes
The Jamestown Town Council will meet as the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners to discuss sewer bill relief requests from two residents, proposed amendments to water/sewer rules, and budget reports. Later, as the Town Council, they will hold public hearings on one-day liquor licenses, discuss short-term rentals…
Town Council to weigh sewer fee relief, water rules, parking bans, bike lane
The Jamestown Town Council will interview applicants for committee vacancies, then sit as the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners to consider sewer bill relief requests and proposed amendments to water/sewer rules. Later, the Council will hold public hearings on one-day liquor licenses, discuss short-term rentals…
Zoning board approved a special use for a motor vehicle rental at 1132 Aquidneck Avenue
The Middletown Zoning Board of Review continued February petitions and voted on several variances and special use requests. It approved garage and addition variances for properties on Indian Avenue and Cedar Avenue, and granted special use permits for a short‑term rental, a motor vehicle rental business, and a pet…
Council adopts traffic impact study requirements for land subdivisions
The Town Council approved an amendment to the Middletown Rules and Regulations on Subdivision and Development of Land by adding Appendix D, which sets traffic impact study requirements. The Council also passed a resolution supporting the Dunlap‑Wheeler Park concept plan and authorizing the administration to move…
Board to consider multiple variance and special‑use petitions for residential properties
The Zoning Board of Review will hold a hearing to consider several petitions submitted by property owners. Items include a variance request to reduce the required rear setback for a garage at 750 Indian Avenue, a special‑use request for a short‑term rental at 142 Honeyman Avenue, and other special‑use and variance…
Middletown Zoning Board approves several residential variances and STR permits
The Zoning Board of Review heard and decided on multiple petitions regarding residential property modifications and short-term rental (STR) uses. The board granted approvals for deck replacements, bedroom additions, and new STR operations.
Council to weigh FY2026/27 budget recommendations
The Jamestown Town Council will conduct interviews for committee vacancies, discuss FY2026/27 budget recommendations, and consider several consent agenda items including a $102,675 Senior Center window bid. The meeting also includes a presentation on modifying the Financial Town Meeting and a public hearing notice for…
Jamestown issues 2026 short-term rental registrations for 100+ properties
This document is a procedural record listing the applicants and addresses for Short-Term Rental (STR) registrations issued in Jamestown, Rhode Island, effective January 1, 2026. It contains no agenda items, decisions, or public hearings, serving only as a registry of approved STR locations. The list includes multiple…
Council votes on affordable housing plan for 11 Knowles Court
The Jamestown Town Council will review and vote on a resolution to develop the town-owned property at 11 Knowles Court for affordable and workforce housing. The meeting also includes the ratification of four short-term rental applications for 2026 and the approval of several one-day event licenses. Additionally, the…
Council votes to develop 11 Knowles Court for affordable housing
The Jamestown Town Council is reviewing Resolution 2025-29, which directs the development of the town-owned property at 11 Knowles Court for affordable and workforce housing. The agenda also includes a status report on short-term rentals, noting 129 approved units for 2026, and the approval of several one-day event…
Council to consider $1.7M wastewater upgrade, short-term rental rules
The Town Council will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to short-term rental regulations and vote on a $1,712,600 contract for wastewater treatment facility improvements. They will also consider a resolution requesting state legislation to tax buildings on leased land as real estate, and discuss creating a…
Council to vote on $475K purchase of 73 Pemberton Ave for affordable housing
The Jamestown Town Council will consider several significant items, including a resolution to expand the senior tax exemption, a proposal for a new North End Fire Station, and the purchase of 73 Pemberton Avenue for affordable housing. They will also discuss support for local food banks, a ferry ticket office…
Council to discuss short-term rental registration ordinance
The Westerly Town Council will hold a workshop to discuss and possibly take action on an ordinance regarding residential zone short-term rental registration. The discussion includes proposed amendments to Section 145-25 of the Town Code of Ordinances.
Council to review short-term rental fees, noise rules, and land dedication
The Jamestown Town Council will review and possibly amend the short-term rental registration fee and noise ordinance, and discuss the Comprehensive Plan's land dedication concept. They will also consider liquor license renewals, a procurement policy, and the Town Administrator's performance review.
Zoning board approves four special use permits including two short-term rentals
The Middletown Zoning Board of Review met on August 26, 2025, to decide on four new petitions. The board approved all four special use permits and variances after public hearings, with no objections for three of the petitions. One petition received a single neighbor objection.
Town Council considers $4.9 million water tank maintenance contract
The Westerly Town Council will discuss and potentially act on several contracts and ordinance amendments. Key items include a large maintenance contract for water tanks and a road crack sealing project. The council will also discuss updates to sewer and short-term rental regulations.
Town Council considers $5.4 million road resurfacing contract
The Westerly Town Council will discuss several infrastructure projects and a police collective bargaining agreement. The body is also considering a lease for property at 328 Atlantic Avenue and a short-term rental registration ordinance.
Westerly Town Council to hold public hearings on FY2025/2026 utility budgets
The Town Council will hold public hearings to discuss and possibly act on water, sewer, and transfer station budgets for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The body will also consider a financial auditing contract and a short-term rental registration ordinance.
Council to debate new restrictions on non-owner occupied short-term rentals
The Newport City Council will discuss a proposed plan to prohibit new non-owner occupied short-term rentals. The council will also vote on adopting the Vision Zero Safety Action Plan, consider a resolution to resume the FY2026-2027 biennial budget, and hold second readings on several smoking and pedicab ordinances…
Zoning board approves two owner-occupied short-term rental variances
The Middletown Zoning Board of Review met on May 27, 2025, and approved two petitions for owner-occupied short-term rentals at 12 Harvey Road and 342 Boulevard. The board also continued two other petitions to the June 24 meeting and adopted the April 22 minutes.
Town Council rejects affordable housing plan and approves hotel tax legislation
The Town Council voted to reject a revised affordable housing plan for Green End Avenue and Oliphant Lane. The Council also unanimously passed a resolution to seek enabling legislation to increase the hotel tax, including short-term rentals.
Zoning Board approves restaurant conversion and multiple short-term rentals
The Middletown Zoning Board of Review approved several petitions at its April 22 meeting, including a special use to convert a retail market at 1037 Aquidneck Avenue into a full-service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, and granted owner-occupied short-term rental permits for three properties. The board also…
Zoning Board approves garage variance for 165A School Land Woods Rd
The Exeter Zoning Board of Review met to consider a request for dimensional relief for a proposed garage. The Board also handled administrative approvals and received an update regarding short-term rental activity on West Shore Drive.
Zoning Board to review short-term rental requests and restaurant conversion
The Zoning Board of Review will consider several petitions for owner-occupied short-term rentals and a property variance. The board will also review a request to convert a retail market into a full-service restaurant.
Zoning board denies BankNewport's oversized illuminated sign; approves several variances
The Middletown Zoning Board of Review met on February 25, 2025, and voted on multiple zoning petitions. The most consequential decision was the denial of BankNewport's request for a special use to allow an oversized illuminated sign at 528 West Main Road, with board members citing safety concerns over driver…