R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-24.6 § 23-24.6-16
Notice prior to residential property transfer
Operative Text
(a) The department shall issue regulations for the disclosure of lead exposure hazards and potential lead exposure hazards in a residential dwelling, dwelling unit, or premise that is offered for sale or lease. These regulations, at the minimum, shall incorporate the requirements of § 1018 of the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (PL 102-550), 42 U.S.C. § 4852d, shall not be inconsistent with the requirements for lead hazard mitigation established pursuant to the provisions of chapter 128.1 of title 42, and shall additionally require an owner of a residential dwelling, dwelling unit, or premise offered for sale or lease to provide copies of any outstanding notice of violation and of results of any lead inspection performed in the dwelling, dwelling unit, or premise and copies of educational materials developed by the department, including information about the requirements of this section and programs that provide financial assistance for comprehensive environmental lead inspections or lead hazard reduction. (b) The department shall prepare written materials concerning environmental lead exposures and lead hazards which shall be made available to real estate brokers and agents. The materials shall also be made available to the general public by the department. (c) The duties required under this section are not exclusive and do not replace or alter any duty imposed upon the owner to perform lead hazard reduction as required by this chapter. (d) In no instance shall the receipt of the disclosures required by this section operate as or be construed as a bar to relief or in any manner be used as an affirmative defense for an owner, operator, or real estate agent in any statutory or common law action. (e) The department shall establish and maintain a registry of real estate for which a comprehensive environmental lead inspection has been performed. The registry shall be cross-indexed by the owners' name, street address, as well as the assessor's lot and plat number for the applicable city or town.
Rhode Island General Laws § 23-24.6-16 requires the state Department of Health to issue regulations mandating disclosure of lead exposure hazards whenever a residential dwelling, unit, or premises is offered for sale or lease. At minimum, these rules must align with federal lead-paint disclosure requirements and must also require owners to share copies of any outstanding violation notices, prior lead inspection results, and department-prepared educational materials with prospective buyers or tenants. The provision also directs the department to maintain a publicly accessible registry of properties that have undergone comprehensive environmental lead inspections, cross-indexed by owner name, address, and assessor lot and plat number. Importantly, receiving these disclosures does not shield an owner, operator, or real estate agent from legal liability under statutory or common law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 23-24.6-16, compliant property owners and managers offering a residential dwelling for sale or lease generally provide prospective buyers or tenants with copies of any outstanding lead violation notices, results of any prior lead inspections conducted on the property, and educational materials prepared by the Rhode Island Department of Health. These disclosure obligations exist alongside—and do not replace—any separate duty to perform lead hazard reduction under Chapter 23-24.6. Operators typically verify whether their property appears in the department's lead inspection registry and ensure that all required documents are delivered before a transaction is finalized, since providing the disclosures does not create a legal defense against claims related to lead hazards.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 23-24.6-16 gives prospective and current tenants the right to receive, before entering into a lease, copies of any outstanding lead violation notices, prior lead inspection results, and educational materials about lead hazards and available financial assistance programs from the Rhode Island Department of Health. Critically, the provision states that a tenant's receipt of these disclosures cannot be used as a defense by an owner, operator, or real estate agent in any legal action—meaning disclosure alone does not extinguish an owner's responsibility. Tenants who believe required disclosures were withheld may wish to consult the department's lead inspection registry, reach out to a tenant-rights organization, or explore complaint processes available under Rhode Island law.
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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