Bolthole Index

Washington County, Rhode Island

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Town of Exeter, RI

Town of Exeter, Rhode Island requires building permits for a new home, with applications handled by the town Building Department.12 Exeter administers town zoning, while Rhode Island DEM handles septic approval.34 For a home requiring septic approval, valid DEM approvals must be presented before the town can issue the building permit.5

At a glance

Building permits
Required for new homes; apply through Exeter Building Department12
Zoning
Town zoning; contact Exeter Zoning Department3
Septic permits
Rhode Island DEM approval for new construction and applicable alterations4
RV living
Parked or stored RVs cannot be used for permanent living or housekeeping for more than 1 week6
Accessory dwellings
Conditional permission in designated residential districts; occupancy certificate required7
Owner-builder
Qualifying owner-occupants can avoid contractor registration, but still need building permits and inspections8
Private wells
State construction and reporting rules apply; ask Exeter about local well permits9

Who to call

Building permits

Exeter Building Department

Exeter Building Department services for Exeter

(401) 667-2912

675 Ten Rod Road Exeter , RI 02822

Zoning

Exeter Zoning Department

Exeter Zoning Department services for Exeter

(401) 667-2912

675 Ten Rod Rd Exeter , RI 02822

Planning & zoning

Exeter Planning Department

Exeter Planning Department services for Exeter

(401) 294-2592

[email protected]

675 Ten Rod Rd Exeter , RI 02822

Septic permits

Rhode Island DEM Office of Water Resources OWTS Program

Rhode Island DEM Office of Water Resources OWTS Program services for Exeter

(401) 222-3961

[email protected]

235 Promenade Street Providence, RI 02908-5767

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Exeter means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Town of Exeter, RI?

A new home in Exeter requires a building permit under Rhode Island’s statewide building-code framework; ordinary repairs and specified minor work have exemptions.1 An exempt project still must comply with the building code and applicable ordinances.1

Exeter’s Building Department provides permitting and inspection services and offers online applications through E-Permitting.2 Qualifying owner-occupants performing their own work without compensated assistance can use the state contractor-registration exemption, but building permits, inspections and approval before use remain required.8 Ask the Building Department which applications and inspections your particular project needs.2

Who handles building permits and zoning in Town of Exeter?

Contact the Exeter Building Department at (401) 667-2912 for building-permit services; the office is at 675 Ten Rod Road in Exeter.2 Exeter directs applicants to contact the inspector directly to schedule an inspection.2 Contact the Exeter Zoning Department for zoning information and applications.3 Septic approval remains with Rhode Island DEM rather than the town building or zoning counter.4

For subdivisions, unified development proposals, land development projects and comprehensive permits, Exeter requires online Planning Board applications through OpenGov, plus hard-copy submission to the Planning Office.10 Applications must be certified complete by the Town Planner by the posted meeting deadlines.10

Does Town of Exeter have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

Exeter has town zoning, and its Zoning Department supplies zoning information, applications and ordinance resources.3 Ask that department to identify the parcel’s district and confirm the current minimum lot size and building setbacks before choosing a house footprint.3

Exeter’s accessory-dwelling rule allows an accessory dwelling in RE-2, RU-3, RU-4 and CR-5 residential districts, subject to conditions.7 The unit may not exceed 900 square feet or 30 percent of the principal dwelling’s gross floor area, whichever is smaller, and requires an occupancy certificate.7 Separate utility service is prohibited unless the unit is in an accessory building.7 Confirm that the proposed layout meets those conditions with Exeter’s Zoning Department.3

How do septic permits work in Town of Exeter?

Rhode Island DEM administers septic approval for Exeter, including new-building-construction and applicable alteration applications.4 New sites require a soil evaluation by a licensed Class IV Soil Evaluator, and new systems require a Class II or Class III designer and a DEM-licensed installer.11 Valid written DEM approvals must be presented before Exeter can issue a building permit for work requiring OWTS approval.5

Adding bedrooms can require an alteration or new-building-construction OWTS application; a suitability determination may still be needed without an increase in bedrooms.4 DEM conducts field inspections during key stages of system siting and installation.12 For septic questions, contact the OWTS Program at (401) 222-3961 or [email protected].13

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Town of Exeter?

Exeter prohibits using a parked or stored recreational vehicle for permanent living or housekeeping for more than 1 week.6 The RV storage rule also excludes required front yards and requires at least 20 feet from side or rear lot lines.6 Do not plan on an RV as long-term housing while building; ask Exeter’s Zoning Department how the occupancy rule applies to your proposal.63

The Farm Overlay District’s by-right camping/picnicking use is limited to tents and excludes RVs and trailers.14 We could not confirm a separate Exeter tiny-home occupancy category or minimum dwelling size; ask the Zoning Department before buying a small dwelling.3 The accessory-dwelling provision offers a conditional route for an additional dwelling, rather than blanket approval for every tiny-home proposal.7

Building a home in Town of Exeter: what comes first?

  1. Ask Exeter’s Zoning Department to confirm the parcel’s zoning and the proposed use.3
  2. If subdivision or land-development review is involved, submit the Planning Board application online and deliver the required hard copies; follow the posted completeness deadlines.10
  3. For a septic-served home, arrange the licensed soil evaluation and design, then obtain valid DEM written approvals before the building permit is issued.115
  4. Apply through Exeter’s E-Permitting system and arrange building inspections directly with the inspector.2
  5. Obtain a certificate of use and occupancy before occupying a new home; private-well properties also need the required drinking-water testing documentation.15

What should you check before buying land in Town of Exeter?

For a parcel in Exeter, begin with the town zoning and building offices; Washington County’s guide provides broader geographic context, but Rhode Island assigns building-code administration to local communities and the state rather than counties.3216

State freshwater-wetlands approval can apply to activities that alter regulated wetlands, buffers or floodplains, including some projects outside jurisdictional areas whose proximity, size or nature may cause alteration.17 New private wells must meet state construction and setback rules, and local officials may require a well permit.9 An OWTS application cannot be approved where public wastewater service is reasonably accessible and permission to connect is available.18 Composting toilets still require approved technology and a separate graywater OWTS under the state sanitation rules.19

Watch-outs

  • Exeter’s RV occupancy limit makes a long-term RV stay during construction a problem; ask the Zoning Department before relying on that housing plan.63
  • We could not confirm Exeter’s current building-permit fee amounts or parcel-specific lot-size and setback requirements; ask the Building Department for fees and the Zoning Department for dimensions.23
  • A qualifying owner-builder exemption removes contractor-registration requirements, not building permits or inspections.8

Sources

  1. R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-27.3-113.1 — When permit is required (Rhode Island statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Exeter Building Department (exeterri.gov)
  3. Exeter Zoning Department (exeterri.gov)
  4. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) (Town of Exeter), quoted and re-checked
  5. Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (Rhode Island statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article V, Sec. 5.1 - Off-street parking facilities (Town of Exeter), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article IV, Sec. 4.3 - Accessory dwelling unit (Town of Exeter), quoted and re-checked
  8. R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-27.3-113.3.2 — Applications for work requiring registered workers (Rhode Island statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Private Well Care, Repairs, and Construction (Rhode Island statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Exeter Planning Department (exeterri.gov)
  11. Obtaining a Permit for a New Home’s Septic System (Rhode Island statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) (Town of Exeter), quoted and re-checked
  13. Rhode Island DEM Office of Water Resources OWTS Program (dem.ri.gov)
  14. Farm overlay district, Sec. 7(a).5 - By right uses (Town of Exeter), quoted and re-checked
  15. R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-27.3-120.1 — New buildings (Rhode Island statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-27.3-100.1 — Short title — Applicability (Rhode Island statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Rules and Regulations Governing the Administration and Enforcement of the Freshwater Wetlands Act (Rhode Island statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (Rhode Island statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (Rhode Island statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Exeter

Town of Exeter’s own rules

  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicles stored in residential districts inside Exeter town.

    • An occupant-owned recreational vehicle includes travel trailers, pickup trucks, campers, tent trailers, motor homes, boats, and boat trailers.
    • No recreational vehicle may be used for permanent living or housekeeping purposes for more than one week.
    • It may not be stored in a required front yard or closer than 20 feet to a side or rear lot line.
    • Outdoor storage requires the vehicle to be functional or capable of being made functional within six months.
    • Overnight bus parking is prohibited in RE-2, RU-3, RU-4, and CR-5 residential districts.

    maximum permanent living period: <= 1 week · side or rear lot-line distance: >= 20 feet

    “No such recreational vehicle, while parked or stored in any district, shall be used for permanent living or housekeeping purposes for more than one week.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping and picnicking in Exeter's Farm Overlay District.

    • The by-right use is limited to combined camping/picnicking using tents.
    • RVs and trailers are excluded from this by-right use.
    “Camping/picnicking (combined) limited to tents, no RV or trailers.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    One accessory dwelling unit per lot in Exeter residential districts RE-2, RU-3, RU-4, and CR-5.

    • The unit may not exceed 900 square feet or 30 percent of the principal dwelling's gross floor area, whichever is smaller.
    • Separate utility connections and service are prohibited unless the unit is located in an accessory building.
    • One off-street parking space is required.
    • A certificate of occupancy must be issued by the building official.
    • Dimensional variance relief may be granted for side or rear setback encroachment.
    • An existing dimensionally nonconforming structure may be used without zoning relief if the building footprint is not enlarged.

    maximum area: <= 900 square feet (or 30 percent of principal dwelling gross floor area, whichever is smaller) · parking: 1 space

    “In residential (RE-2, RU-3, RU-4, CR-5) districts, one accessory dwelling unit, as defined in article I, section 1.2(2), shall be permitted on each lot, provided that any such accessory dwelling unit:”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways serving land uses inside Exeter town.

    • Each traffic lane must be at least 12 feet wide.
    • A driveway may not exceed 30 feet in width.
    • No driveway may be within 20 feet of another driveway.
    • The rule appears in the off-street parking construction requirements.

    minimum driveway lane width: >= 12 feet · maximum driveway width: <= 30 feet · separation from another driveway: >= 20 feet

    “All driveways shall be a minimum of 12 feet in width for each lane of traffic using such driveway. However, the width of any driveway shall not exceed 30 feet. No driveway shall be within 20 feet of another driveway.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Exeter

Town of Exeter does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Septic permitRequired

    New-building-construction and alteration OWTS permits inside Exeter town.

    • For additional bedrooms, a DEM Class II or III OWTS Designer applies for an Alteration or New Building Construction permit depending on the number of bedrooms added.
    • A residential system-suitability determination may still be required when bedrooms are not increased.
    “The Designer will then apply for an Alteration or a New Building Construction permit with the DEM, depending on the number of bedrooms to be added.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    OWTS construction and inspection notifications for systems inside Exeter town.

    • DEM directs OWTS construction-start and inspection notifications through its OWR application portal.
    • Questions about inspections are directed to the DEM OWTS Program.
    “System installation: Field inspections are conducted by DEM staff during the key stages of system siting and installation.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Exeter or Washington County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Exeter town.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Exeter zoning districts.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Exeter town.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation inside Exeter town.
  • Well permit — Private or public well permitting inside Exeter town.
5 more unanswered
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Exeter publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Washington County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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