Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-27.3-113.3.2 § 23-27.3-113.3.2. Applications for work requiring registered workers

(a) Prior to the approval of a permit issued to any contractor for work which state law requires that said contractor be registered, the registered contractor shall show the building official a recognized form of identification from the contractors' registration board and sign the permit.   The local official may verify the work is being done properly in the following manner:

If the worker is not a registered person, then the local official may take whatever remedial actions allowed by the code pertaining to the improper work found in violation.  The workers found to be doing work without a valid Rhode Island registration shall be reported to the appropriate registration board for sanctions and penalties.

(b) The owner/occupant of single family dwelling shall be exempt from the registration requirements of subsection (a), but must obtain a permit, be inspected by the local official in accordance with the provisions of the code, and obtain approval of the work prior to use of the completed alteration.  Additionally, in order to be exempt from the registration requirements of subsection (a), the owner/occupant must undertake the work required to be licensed without the assistance of others who are compensated.