R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-24.6 § 23-24.6-15
Inspections of rental property
Operative Text
(a) The director shall promulgate regulations permitting state inspectors to conduct such lead inspections as may be appropriate in response to any complaint to the department by an occupant or the parent or guardian of any child under the age of six (6) years who is an occupant renting or leasing a dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises of the existence of a lead exposure hazard for a child under the age of six (6) years in that dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises. These regulations will allow for response to the complaints to be prioritized based upon the age of the structure and the nature and degree of hazard present. (b) Whenever a comprehensive environmental lead inspection has been performed either pursuant to a complaint or otherwise, the owner and/or any real estate agent or property manager involved in renting or leasing the dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises shall provide the results of the inspection to occupants pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department, as follows: (1) Those persons occupying the dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises at the time the inspection is performed shall be notified of the results within five (5) business days after the owner receives the results; (2) All persons who are prospective occupants shall be notified of the inspection results if a significant lead hazard exists, before any lease is signed or before occupancy begins in cases where no lease is signed; (3) This notice provision terminates with the performance of the necessary lead reduction actions required to reach at least the "lead safe" level. The department shall provide the owner with a certification of lead reduction for the dwelling. (c) Failure to provide inspection results and/or educational materials pursuant to this chapter shall subject the lessor or the lessor's agent to a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation.
Rhode Island General Laws § 23-24.6-15 establishes a framework for lead inspections of rental properties. State inspectors may conduct lead inspections in response to complaints filed by occupants or parents and guardians of children under six years old, with response priority based on the age of the structure and severity of the hazard. Once a comprehensive lead inspection has been completed, property owners, real estate agents, and property managers are required to share the results with current occupants within five business days and with prospective occupants before any lease is signed or occupancy begins, if a significant lead hazard exists. This disclosure obligation ends once the property has been certified as having reached at least a 'lead safe' level following required lead reduction actions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 23-24.6-15, compliant rental property operators maintain clear records of any comprehensive lead inspections performed on their properties and act promptly when results are received. Current occupants are notified of inspection results within five business days of the owner receiving them, and prospective occupants are informed of any significant lead hazard before a lease is signed or occupancy begins. Operators who fail to provide required inspection results or educational materials face civil penalties ranging from $100 to $500 per violation, so maintaining documentation of all disclosures is a standard practice for demonstrating compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 23-24.6-15 gives occupants and parents or guardians of children under six the right to file a complaint with the Rhode Island Department of Health, which can trigger a state lead inspection of the rental property. If a comprehensive lead inspection has been conducted, tenants are entitled to receive the results within five business days of the owner obtaining them, and prospective tenants must be informed of any significant lead hazard before signing a lease. Tenants who believe they have not received required inspection results or educational materials may consider contacting the department about the civil penalty provisions in this section, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information about available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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