Local Services in Rhode Island

Rhode Island's Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board requires all contractors to register and carry liability insurance before performing any work in the state. Despite its small size, Rhode Island has a dense housing market with some of the oldest housing stock in the nation — including extensive Victorian, Federal, and Colonial architecture in Providence and Newport. The state's extensive coastline relative to its land area means that saltwater corrosion, coastal flooding, and hurricane preparedness affect a disproportionately large share of its homes. Lead paint issues are particularly prevalent in Rhode Island's pre-1978 housing, which makes up the majority of the state's residential buildings.