Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation

In accordance with Governor Raimondo’s March 28, 2020 executive order, the Department of Business Regulation is providing the following list of critical and non-critical retail businesses. For questions on these guidelines, please submit your questions online to the Department of Business Regulation using the web form available at https://dbr.ri.gov/critical/. You may also call the Department of Business Regulation at 401-889-5550.

Critical retail businesses include:

- Food and beverage stores (e.g. supermarkets; liquor, specialty food, bodega and convenience stores; farmers’ markets; food banks and pantries)

- Pharmacies and medical supply stores, compassion centers

- Pet supply stores

- Printing shops, mail and delivery stores and operations, office supply

- Gas stations

- Laundromats

- Electronics and telecommunications stores

- Industrial, construction, agricultural/seafood equipment and supply stores, hardware stores, general power equipment

- Funeral homes

- Auto repair and supply

- Banks and credit unions

- Firearms stores

- Healthcare and public safety professional uniform stores

- And other stores and businesses identified as critical by the Department of Business Regulation.

Non-critical retail businesses include:

- Arts & crafts stores

- Florists

- Furniture stores (by appointment only)

- Car and other motor vehicle dealerships (except for auto repair and by appointment only)

- Music stores

- Billiard stores

- Sporting goods stores

- Home furnishings stores

- Lawn/garden supply stores (note that agricultural/seafood supply would be allowed to be open)

- Book stores

- Departments stores

- Gift stores

- Beauty supply stores

- Second-hand/consignment stores

- Shoe stores

- Clothing stores

- Jewelry stores

Additional guidance:

- Restaurants and bars may continue to operate only for pickup, drive-through, and delivery as per the Governor’s Executive Order 20-04.

- All critical retail employers are required to implement social distancing and to work from home to the extent possible.

- Financial services offered by pawn shops and payday lenders would be allowed to continue. In-person retail at pawn shops would be considered non-critical and closed.

- For stores that are mixed retail and service, general retail with customers coming in and out of your store is not permitted.

- For non-critical retail stores, although in-person retail sales are not allowed, retailers may continue to receive and ship orders made by phone or online.