Rhode Island building permits

Where to get a building permit in Rhode Island

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Rhode Island state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Rhode Island

For homes, the residential code is the Rhode Island One & Two-Family Dwelling Code (IRC 2021 with RI amendments)⁴, in effect since December 1, 2025⁴ (statewide; applies everywhere⁴).

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Rhode Island building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

510-RICR-00-00-2 § 2.3, IRC R105.2 as amended (RI One & Two-Family Dwelling Code) · in effect December 1, 2025⁴

• Permits not required for listed work. Exemption from the permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following…⁴
• 64 square feet. 1. One (1) story detached accessory structures provided the floor area does not exceed sixty-four (64) square feet (5.95 m2).⁴
• 6 feet. 2. Fences not over six feet (6’) (1829 mm) high.⁴
• 32 inches. 3. Retaining walls that are not over thirty-two inches (32”) in height measured from the lower finished grade to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.⁴
• 24 inches. Exception: All cast-in-place concrete retaining walls greater than twenty-four inches (24”) in height shall require a permit.⁴
• 4. Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed five thousand (5,000) gallons (18,927 L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed two to one (2 to 1).⁴
• 30 inches. 5. Sidewalks and driveways not more than thirty inches (30”) (762 mm) above adjacent grade and not over any basement or story below.⁴
• Finish work exempt. 6. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.⁴
• 24 inches. 7. Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than twenty-four inches (24”) (610 mm) deep, and man-made landscape ponds of any depth.⁴
• Playground equipment exempt. 8. Swings and other playground equipment and play structures.⁴
• Window awnings exempt. 9. Window awnings supported by an exterior wall.⁴
• Replacement window sash exempt. 10. Replacement window sash installations.⁴
• Full window replacement (frame and sash) requires permit. Exception: Replacement window installations that include a frame and sash(es) require a permit.⁴
• Decks are not in the exemption list; RI frost depth for attached decks 3 ft 4 in. Accessory attached structures such as decks, platforms or landings shall have footings extending to three feet and four inches (3’4”) below grade.⁴
• Plumbing repair exemption. The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, and the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.⁴
• Gas minor part replacement exempt. Replacement of any minor part or appliance that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.⁴

Applies to

One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses (IRC scope)⁴

Homeowners doing their own work

R.I. Gen. Laws chs. 23-27.3, 5-65, 5-6, 5-20

• Single-family owner-occupants may pull an electrical permit and do the work if competent (Providence). Single family owner-occupied homeowners may take out a permit to do the work themselves only if they can demonstrate a level of competency in performing the work.¹⁴

Contractor licensing

R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 5-65; 440-RICR-10-00-1 and 440-RICR-10-00-2

• Contractor registration required for residential and commercial building/repair contractors. The Contractors’ Registration Law requires every contractor, remodeler and most subcontractors who are in the business of building or repairing residential or commercial structures and their appurtenances in the State of Rhode Island to register with the Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board, so that claims filed against them can be heard and settled.¹⁵
• Penalties for operating unregistered. Any person who fails to register as a contractor, as stipulated, is subject to penalties for operating without a registration.¹⁵
• Registration before engaging in work. A. Every person who engages in a discipline governed by the Board, listed in §§ 1.1 and 1.2(A) of this Part, must be properly registered or licensed with the Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board prior to engaging in those activities.³
• Appurtenances covered include decks, sheds, fencing, pools, garages, driveways. Porch, patio, decks and deck steps, docks, sheds, tents and other fabric structures (temporary or permanent), gazebos, walkways, or fencing…¹⁵
• 1. As a condition of initial registration, each applicant for a contractor's registration must provide the Board with proof of satisfactory completion of five (5) credit hours of education prior to obtaining a registration.¹⁵
• 1. As condition of registration renewal, registrants shall complete five (5) hours of approved continuing education courses with an approved Provider during each two (2) year registration cycle.¹⁵
• Registration number required on contracts, proposals and invoices. C. Registration/license numbers must be included on all written contracts, proposals, and invoices.³
• Permit application may be filed by an agent of a registered contractor. D. For purposes of completing an application in either paper or electronic form, for a permit to conduct activities subject to this Subchapter, the actual applicant does not need to possess a registration/license, as long as the applicant is acting on behalf a validly registered/licensed contractor and it will be the registered/licensed contractor who is doing the work.³

Applies to

Contractors, remodelers and most subcontractors (residential and commercial)¹⁵

Handyman limits

R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-65-2(4); 440-RICR-10-00-2 § 2.4(B)

• $500. B. "Casual," "Minor" or "Inconsequential" means work not of a structural nature that cannot affect the health or safety of the owner or occupant of the structure; the value for the contract, labor, materials, and all other items is less than five-hundred dollars ($500.00) as used in R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-65-2(4).¹⁵

Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections

R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-27.3

• IBC permit-application/action sections deleted in favor of state law. 105.3, 105.3.1, 105.3.2, and 105.5, Delete IBC sections 105.3, 105.3.1, 105.3.2, and 105.5 without substitution.⁵

Private plan review and inspections

R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-27.3; 510-RICR-00-00-9 § 9.4.1(B)

• State performs plan reviews on behalf of municipalities on request (fee). 1. The following fees shall be charged for performing plan reviews in order to determine code compliance on behalf of local municipalities.¹

Limits on permit fees

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-27.3-118, 23-27.3-118.1, 23-27.3-119; 510-RICR-00-00-21

• Municipal building permit fees must follow the state fee schedules. The building permit fees assessed by municipalities shall be computed in accordance with the fee schedules listed in § 21.12 of this Part herein.²
• Effective July 1, 2018. The fee schedules established herein shall become effective on July 1, 2018 provided that the fee schedule established herein for a municipality that is granted an extended transition period shall become effective on July 1, 2020.²
• Statewide permit formula. The statewide permit formula shall factor in various data inputs including but not limited to the size of the municipality, the budget and size of the municipality’s department, division or office that works on permitting issues, and the number and types of permitting actions that occur within the municipality.²
• Schedules exclude the state levy. A. The fees specified in the below fee schedules are exclusive of the levy mandated by R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-27.3-108.2(c)(1).²
• Barrington: $8.00 per $1,000 for valuation $1 to $10,000. Town of Barrington Project Valuation Fee Schedule $1 to $10,000 $8.00 per $1,000…²
• State permit fee for state-jurisdiction projects: $50 flat up to $3,000. From $0.00 to $3,000.00 --- $50.00 Flat Fee…¹
• $40. Note: $40 minimum fee…²

Applies to

All Rhode Island municipalities²

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 45-24-31, 45-24-37, 45-24-73

• Providence: one ADU per residentially zoned lot (city zoning guidance). One ADU is permitted per residentially zoned lot.¹⁶