Newport County, Rhode Island Building Permit Guide

Newport County has 6 municipalities: Newport, Portsmouth, Middletown, Tiverton, Jamestown and Little Compton. By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates the largest are Newport (24251), Portsmouth (17474), Middletown (16502) and Tiverton (15809), and each has its own building department on the statewide e-permitting portal.

This guide covers the building offices of the four largest municipalities and the state septic and highway permits.

What requires a building permit in Newport County?

Newport County has no county building office. The State Building Code sets what needs a permit across Rhode Island, and the permit is filed with the building department of the city or town where the work is.

Newport, for example, lists replacing roof covering, any window or door, wallboard, and siding among work that needs a building permit.

Rhode Island has one state building code, kept by the State Building Code Office and enforced by each city or town’s building official; there is no county layer, and appeals go first to the town’s board of appeals, then to the state Building Code Board of Standards and Appeals. Rhode Island rules

Who handles permitting in Newport County?

On the statewide portal since: Newport 04/24/2017, Portsmouth 06/28/2018, Middletown 10/17/2017, Tiverton 11/18/2018.

Two state offices often come up alongside the town permit: septic (OWTS) permits come from the RI Department of Environmental Management, 235 Promenade Street, Providence (401-222-4700), which says new construction or alteration applications typically take 3 weeks to review and repairs 1-2 weeks; and driveways, drainage or other work in a state highway right-of-way need a RIDOT Physical Alteration Permit.

How each Newport County town handles permits

Newport

The department reviews building, housing, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits. A homeowner doing their own work gets the same permit as a contractor but must first sign a notarized homeowners affidavit.

Portsmouth

In a flood zone an Elevation Certificate is required before a permit is issued, and plans also go to the Fire Department for smoke and CO detector locations.

Middletown

Work must start within six months of permit issuance and not stop for more than six months at a time, or the permit can be revoked. Depending on scope, a Construction Site Runoff Control Permit (Building Department) and an Excavation Permit (Public Works) may be needed, both in the portal, and driveway alterations are reviewed by the Town.

Tiverton

All Building Department applications (demolition, building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, solar) are filed on OpenGov. The department is also the town’s floodplain administrator.

Newport County permit costs and fees

Portsmouth adds these to new construction: Fire Department plan review $75.00, a refundable soil bond of $3,000+ based on the erosion and sediment control plan, and an impact fee of $3,190 per bedroom (first bedroom no charge). Since May 2025 its late filing fees for work started without a permit are $500 per permit for a first offense by a contractor or warned homeowner, then $1,000, then $5,000, doubling after that; a homeowner’s first offense is exempt if they comply within one business day.

How to get a building permit in Newport County

Inspections in Newport County

Middletown inspections must be requested on the e-permitting portal so there is a record. Tiverton building inspections are booked by calling the Building Department, while plumbing and mechanical inspections are requested by email to Lubera Plumbing or through the portal.

Official Newport County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Newport building inspections
• Portsmouth Building Inspection
• Middletown Building / Zoning
• Tiverton Building / Code / Zoning
• RI municipal building department directory
• RI DEM septic (OWTS) permits

Frequently asked questions

Does Newport County issue building permits?

No. Each of its 6 municipalities issues its own.

What impact fee does Portsmouth charge?

$3,190 per bedroom on new construction, with no charge for the first bedroom.

Can a Newport homeowner pull their own permit?

Yes, the same permit as a contractor, after signing a notarized homeowners affidavit.

Simplify Newport County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm the city or town building department for the parcel and its sign-offs
• File the application on the statewide e-permitting portal with the town’s required documents
• Coordinate DEM septic and RIDOT driveway permits and book inspections the way the town requires

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Rhode Island. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Newport County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.