Rhode Island General Laws § 45-24-73 provides one ADU per lot by right through any of three stated routes. The owner-occupancy condition belongs to one route; it is not stated as a condition for all three. Other zoning, building, sanitation, and property requirements still need to be checked.
Identify which statutory route fits
The statute lists: an owner-occupied property where the ADU is a reasonable accommodation for a family member with a disability; a residential lot of at least 20,000 square feet; or an ADU located within an existing primary- or accessory-structure footprint with no footprint expansion. Confirm the lot-area calculation, existing building footprint, occupancy facts, and applicable local standards before relying on a route.
For an ADU that is already legally established, the statute says its permitted status is not revoked solely because title or occupancy transfers. That continuity rule does not make the ADU a separately saleable parcel or condominium unit, and it does not cure a unit that lacks required approvals. Check the property’s permit, occupancy, title, and subdivision records separately.
Treat short-term use as a separate restriction
The same statute prohibits offering or renting an ADU for tourist or transient use or through a hosting platform. An ADU’s by-right zoning path therefore does not authorize short stays. Check the current statutory wording, applicable local implementation, and how the intended use is classified before advertising or accepting bookings.
The state law is a starting point, not a parcel decision. Confirm the current municipal code, the qualifying statutory route, existing-unit legal status, and building, fire, water, wastewater, and occupancy approvals with the responsible authority. Keep long-term tenancy, transient use, and separate conveyance as distinct questions.