City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Middletown, RI
How Middletown regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- owner must reside on the property at all times during any short-term rental (owner-occupancy/host-present supply device)
- all new first-time STRs require a discretionary Special Use permit before the Zoning Board of Review
- new applicants must be a homeowner-occupied property (no by-right whole-home absentee STR)
- six-renter-per-building occupancy cap
Based on: Middletown Code of Ordinances Ch. 98 Short-Term Rental Leases (STR ordinance adopted Nov. 15, 2021
Summary of the rule
OWNER TO RESIDE ON PROPERTY AT ALL TIMES
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Active litigation / open question
At adoption of the Oct. 2024 amendment, an attorney representing STR owners threatened litigation arguing conflict with state law and the town comprehensive plan. No enjoinment confirmed; the ordinance is in force. RI STR municipal restrictions have been litigated statewide. Source ↗
Reported as fact only, reflecting the code as currently in effect — not legal advice, and not a prediction of the outcome. Verify current status before relying on it.
Last reviewed Sep 15, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Middletown · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.