2023 -- H 6183
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LC002645
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- TOURISM AND
DEVELOPMENT
Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, and McGaw
Date Introduced: March 22, 2023
Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing
(By Request)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 42-63.1 of the General Laws entitled "Tourism and Development" is 1
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
42-63.1-14.2. Municipal regulations for short-term rentals. 3
(a) A municipality, by and through its city or town council, is authorized to grant and issue 4
licenses regulating the establishment and use of short-term rentals, as defined by § 42- 63.1-14(b). 5
In granting such short-term rental licenses, the municipality may establish rules and regulations 6
which may include, but are not limited to, the following: 7
(1) Annual health and safety inspections inclusive of fire code, building, and health and 8
safety regulations or statutes and approved sewage or wastewater services; 9
(2) Annual licensing fees not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per bedroom, as 10
defined in the Rhode Island state building code, in the proposed short-term rental facility; 11
(3) The name, address, and active phone number of a responsible individual or entity for 12
emergency or other contacts; 13
(4) The provision of private adequate trash removal services and recycling for any short-14
term rental facility that is not occupied by its owner; 15
(5) The provision of on-site parking; and 16
(6) The limitation of use of the property for events or gatherings that are inconsistent with 17
the underlying zoning designation or local rules or ordinances. 18
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(b) A municipality may provide, by separate ordinance, a limit on the number of licenses 1
issued under this section within the municipality as a whole or within specific neighborhoods or 2
zoning districts. 3
(c) A municipality may include in a separate ordinance a provision for fines for the failure 4
of a licensee to comply with the licensing requirement, said fine not to exceed five hundred dollars 5
($500) per incident. 6
(d) The municipality shall not vote on the issuance of any license for a short-term rental 7
until the conclusion of a public hearing that has been advertised at least three (3) consecutive weeks 8
in a newspaper of general circulation and on the municipality’s website. The advertisement shall 9
contain the name of the applicant, the address of the proposed short-term rental, including the plat 10
and lot number, the maximum occupancy of the proposed short-term rental, and the current zone 11
of the property. 12
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 13
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- TOURISM AND
DEVELOPMENT
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This act would authorize municipalities to establish rules and regulations and issue licenses 1
for short-term rentals. The act would permit municipalities to charge a licensing fee and regulate 2
such things as: 3
(1) Inspections including fire code, building, and health and safety; 4
(2) Requiring private trash removal services and parking; and 5
(3) Limiting the use of the property for events or gathering. 6
This act would take effect upon passage. 7
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