Rhode Island General Laws Title 5. Businesses and Professions § 5-10-23. Fixed place of business

(a) Except as provided in this section, manicuring, esthetics, barbering and/or hairdressing and cosmetic therapy, as defined in this chapter, shall be practiced only in a shop licensed under § 5-10-15. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the practice of barbering, manicuring, and hairdressing and cosmetic therapy and esthetics in the same shop or place of business.

(b) Nothing in this section shall restrict a hairdresser licensed pursuant to this chapter, operating in a licensed nursing service agency, from providing services to an individual who is homebound at their home. For purposes of this section, “ homebound” is defined as any person who is considered housebound for purpose of federal Medicare eligibility.

(c) Nothing in this section shall restrict any person licensed pursuant to this chapter from providing services to an individual who is homebound at their home as verified by a licensed healthcare professional.

(d) Nothing in this section shall restrict or prohibit any person licensed pursuant to this chapter from providing services to an individual residing in any Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) recognized housing for the elderly in the H.U.D. recognized housing in which the individual resides. Those services shall be provided in a separate room inspected by the department of health. Students enrolled in programs of hairdressing, barbering and/or cosmetology are prohibited in H.U.D. recognized housing.

(e) Nothing in this section shall restrict or prohibit any person licensed pursuant to this chapter from providing services to an individual outside a licensed shop as part of a special occasion event, such as a wedding or prom, so long as those services are limited to hair styling and makeup, and the health and sanitation standards expected of licensees in licensed shops are followed.