City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Newport, RI
How Newport 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.
- Whole-home/absentee STR prohibited in all residential zones (R3-R160)
- STR in residential zones allowed only if the home is the owner's primary residence
- Host-present requirement: owner must reside on-premises for the rental duration
- In-residential-zone STR capped at 2 rooms / 4 guests (owner-occupied only)
- Standalone/non-owner-occupied STRs in residential zones eliminated by 2022 ordinances
- Dual registration required: RI DBR + City of Newport as Transient Guest Facility
Based on: Newport Codified Ordinances Title 17 (Zoning) §§17.100.050/.110/.130/.320/.360 & §5.40.020; STR-in-residential
Summary of the rule
Property owners in Newport's Residential Zones are NOT PERMITTED to rent their properties for less than 30 days unless the home serves as a primary residence.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Newport · system last checked Oct 24, 2026
Owners in Newport
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
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.