2023 -- S 0308

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LC001230

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- TOURISM AND

DEVELOPMENT

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, and Felag

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-63.1 of the General Laws entitled "Tourism and Development" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-63.1-14.2. Municipal regulations for short-term rentals.

     (a) A municipality, by and through its city or town council, is authorized to grant and issue

licenses regulating the establishment and use of short-term rentals, as defined by § 42- 63.1-14(b).

In granting such short-term rental licenses, the municipality may establish rules and regulations

which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

     (1) Annual health and safety inspections inclusive of fire code, building, and health and

safety regulations or statutes and approved sewage or wastewater services;

     (2) Annual licensing fees not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per bedroom, as

defined in the Rhode Island state building code, in the proposed short-term rental facility;

     (3) The name, address, and active phone number of a responsible individual or entity for

emergency or other contacts;

     (4) The provision of private adequate trash removal services and recycling for any short-

term rental facility that is not occupied by its owner;

     (5) The provision of on-site parking; and

     (6) The limitation of use of the property for events or gatherings that are inconsistent with

the underlying zoning designation or local rules or ordinances.

     (b) A municipality may provide, by separate ordinance, a limit on the number of licenses

issued under this section within the municipality as a whole or within specific neighborhoods or

zoning districts.

     (c) A municipality may include in a separate ordinance a provision for fines for the failure

of a licensee to comply with the licensing requirement, said fine not to exceed five hundred dollars

($500) per incident.

     (d) The municipality shall not vote on the issuance of any license for a short-term rental

until the conclusion of a public hearing that has been advertised at least three (3) consecutive weeks

in a newspaper of general circulation and on the municipality’s website. The advertisement shall

contain the name of the applicant, the address of the proposed short-term rental, including the plat

and lot number, the maximum occupancy of the proposed short-term rental, and the current zone

of the property.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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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

for short-term rentals. The act would permit municipalities to charge a licensing fee and regulate

such things as:

     (1) Inspections including fire code, building, and health and safety;

     (2) Requiring private trash removal services and parking; and

     (3) Limiting the use of the property for events or gathering.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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