Permits and licensing · Rhode Island
Renovation permits and contractor licences in Rhode Island
Rhode Island ties contractor registration directly to your building permit: state law says a city, town or the state shall not issue a building permit to anyone required to be registered who does not hold a current, valid registration or licence. Contractors register with the Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board under chapter 5-65; electricians and plumbers hold separate licences under their own chapters. Permits and inspections are run by your city or town under the state building code.
Regulators and licensing bodies in Rhode Island
These official bodies license contractors, oversee safety or issue permits in Rhode Island.
Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (RI General Laws chapter 5-65)
The board created by chapter 5-65 to register contractors working on structures. The law says a person shall not undertake, offer to undertake, or submit a bid to do work as a contractor on a structure without a current, valid certificate of registration, and that the registration number must appear in any advertising by that contractor. The board accepts complaints about negligent work, improper work, breach of contract and contract disputes.
State Board of Examiners of Electricians (RI General Laws chapter 5-6)
Licenses electrical work in Rhode Island. The law says no person, firm or corporation shall enter into, engage in, solicit, advertise, bid for or work at the business of installing, maintaining, servicing and testing wires, conduits and apparatus unless licensed and certificated by the state board of examiners of electricians. The chapter also covers fire alarm, electrical sign and renewable energy certifications.
Plumbers, irrigators and water system installers (RI General Laws chapter 5-20)
The chapter that licenses plumbers, irrigators and water system installers at master, journeyperson and apprentice level, sets out the board of examiners' functions, and covers licence qualifications, examinations, renewals and revocation.
Rhode Island State Building Code (RI General Laws chapter 23-27.3)
The state building code, which controls the construction, alteration, repair, demolition, inspection, permitting and use of all buildings and structures, the rehabilitation of existing buildings, and standards for materials, safety, means of egress, energy conservation and sanitary conditions.
Trades that need a licence in Rhode Island
General contracting and renovation
A contractor may not undertake, offer to undertake or bid for work on a structure without a current, valid certificate of registration, and the registration number must appear in their advertising — business cards, vehicles and directory listings included. If the work goes wrong, the board accepts complaints about negligent work, improper work, breach of contract and contract disputes, though the statute says the board does not itself order payment of damages.
Sources:RI General Laws 5-65-3 – Registration for work on structures; building permit restrictions(opens in a new tab)RI General Laws chapter 5-65 – Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board(opens in a new tab)RI General Laws 5-65-11 – Complaints to the board(opens in a new tab)
Consumer protection
Registration is enforced at the permit counter. A city, town or the state shall not issue a building permit to anyone required to be registered who does not have a current, valid registration or licence, and where a homeowner pulls the permit themselves the building official must find out the registration number of every contractor on site and report unregistered ones to the board.
Certified trades
A registered contractor must carry public liability and property damage insurance covering their work and workers' compensation cover, and must give the board satisfactory evidence at registration and at each renewal that the insurance is in place. Ask to see the certificate for your job as well.
Sources:RI General Laws 5-65-7 – Insurance required of registered contractors(opens in a new tab)
Electrical work
Electrical work in Rhode Island requires a licence and certificate from the state board of examiners of electricians — the law reaches anyone who works at, solicits, advertises or bids for the business of installing, maintaining, servicing or testing wiring and apparatus. Contractor registration alone does not allow someone to do your wiring.
Sources:RI General Laws 5-6-2 – Licence required for electrical work(opens in a new tab)
Plumbing
Plumbers, irrigators and water system installers are licensed under their own chapter, with master, journeyperson and apprentice grades and an examining board. Ask which grade your plumber holds, and remember that an apprentice works under supervision.
Sources:RI General Laws chapter 5-20 – Plumbers, irrigators and water system installers(opens in a new tab)
Building and renovation permits in Rhode Island
Your city or town issues the permits and inspects the work under the state building code, which controls construction, alteration, repair, demolition, inspection, permitting and use of buildings. In Cranston a permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, remove or demolish a structure or change a building's occupancy from one use group to another, and the Department of Inspections checks compliance with the Rhode Island State Building Code, which incorporates the International Codes and the National Electrical Code as amended. Pawtucket's zoning and code enforcement office issues building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits and the certificates of zoning compliance and occupancy.
Sources:RI General Laws 23-27.3-100.1 – Scope of the state building code(opens in a new tab)Cranston – Building inspection(opens in a new tab)Pawtucket – Zoning and code enforcement(opens in a new tab)
Before you hire a contractor in Rhode Island
Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.
Ask for the contractor's registration number and check it appears on the contract and on their advertising.
Official lookup: RI General Laws 5-65-3 – Registration for work on structures; building permit restrictions(opens in a new tab)
Remember the permit office cannot issue a building permit to an unregistered contractor, so a contractor avoiding the permit is a warning sign.
Official lookup: RI General Laws 5-65-3 – Registration for work on structures; building permit restrictions(opens in a new tab)
Ask for proof of public liability, property damage and workers' compensation cover for your job.
Official lookup: RI General Laws 5-65-7 – Insurance required of registered contractors(opens in a new tab)
For electrical or plumbing work, check the separate trade licence, not just the contractor registration.
Official lookup: RI General Laws 5-6-2 – Licence required for electrical work(opens in a new tab)
Ask your city or town's building official which permits and inspections your project needs before work starts.
Official lookup: RI General Laws 23-27.3-100.1 – Scope of the state building code(opens in a new tab)
Confirm the contractor's licence and insurance with your state or county government, and get the work, materials and price in writing.
Official lookup: FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Sources for renovation permits and licences in Rhode Island
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources.
- RI General Laws chapter 5-65 – Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board(opens in a new tab)
- RI General Laws 5-65-3 – Registration for work on structures; building permit restrictions(opens in a new tab)
- RI General Laws 5-65-11 – Complaints to the board(opens in a new tab)
- RI General Laws chapter 5-6 – Electricians(opens in a new tab)
- RI General Laws 5-6-2 – Licence required for electrical work(opens in a new tab)
- RI General Laws chapter 5-20 – Plumbers, irrigators and water system installers(opens in a new tab)
- RI General Laws chapter 23-27.3 – State Building Code(opens in a new tab)
- RI General Laws 23-27.3-100.1 – Scope of the state building code(opens in a new tab)
- RI General Laws 5-65-7 – Insurance required of registered contractors(opens in a new tab)
- Cranston – Building inspection(opens in a new tab)
- Pawtucket – Zoning and code enforcement(opens in a new tab)
Find licensed pros
Compare local pros for the regulated trades in this guide, then confirm their licence with the regulator before you hire.
Renovation permits in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.