Middletown, Rhode Island

When deciding whether to become an Airbnb host, it is important for you to understand the laws in your city. As a platform and marketplace we do not provide legal advice, but we want to give you some useful links that may help you better understand laws and regulations in Middletown, Rhode Island. If you have questions, contact the Town of Middletown, or consult a local lawyer.

Registration requirements

On November 15, 2021, the Middletown Town Council adopted a short-term rental ordinance. All dwelling units, rooms or other spaces that are occupied for less than six months must apply for a permit for registration and inspection.

The short-term rental application form should include the tax assessor’s plat and lot number, address of the rental dwelling unit, the number of rental dwelling units therein, the name and permanent mailing address of the record owner and of his or her local representative, if any, and the usual period of occupancy by tenants (summer, monthly, weekly or other). 

The ordinance requires that the short-term rental must be managed by an individual or property management company located within 10 miles if the property owner isn’t available. If another individual or organization is charged with managing the property, they must be authorized to answer guest, neighborhood complaints, or police department inquiries. Failure to respond to police department inquiries may result in fines.

The fee for registering a short-term rental unit is $55.00 for each bedroom in the unit with a minimum fee of $55.00; the fee for premises on which the owner maintains their principal residence shall be $55.00 per dwelling unit, regardless of the number of bedrooms. Fines for not registering or violating other regulations may result in a fine of up to $1,000.

You can apply for a permit online. To apply online, please visit Middletown’s short-term rental website.

This is a non-exhaustive article on the rules and regulations. For complete and detailed information on these requirements, including parking and occupancy limits, please refer to the town's ordinance.