R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 31-44 § 31-44-2
Evictions — Termination of tenancy
Operative Text
(a) A tenancy may be terminated by a park owner or operator pursuant to chapter 18 of title 34, provided, that jurisdiction as it relates to this chapter shall be in the district court but subject to one or more of the following reasons and limitations which shall take precedence over any conflicting state statute or local ordinance: (1) Nonpayment of rent, utility charges, or reasonable incidental service charges. No action for possession shall be maintained if prior to the expiration of a notice to quit the tenant shall pay or tender all arrearages due, including a late charge of five percent (5%) of the monthly rent due after a seven (7) day grace period for the rental payment has elapsed. (2) Failure of the tenant to comply with local ordinances or state or federal law or regulations relating to mobile and manufactured homes or mobile and manufactured home parks. The tenant is first given written notice of his or her failure to comply with the laws or regulations and a reasonable opportunity thereafter to comply with the laws or regulations. (3) Damage by the tenant to the demised property, reasonable wear and tear excepted. (4) Repeated conduct of the tenant, upon the mobile and manufactured home park premises, which disturbs the peace and quiet of other tenants in the mobile and manufactured home park. (5) Failure of the tenant to comply with reasonable written rules and regulations of the mobile and manufactured home park as established by the park owner or operator in the rental agreement at the inception of the tenancy or as amended subsequently with the written acknowledgement that the tenant has seen the amended rules, or without his or her consent upon three (3) months written notice; provided that the tenant is first given written notice of his or her failure to comply and a reasonable opportunity thereafter to comply with the rules and regulations. Nothing in this section, however, shall be construed to permit a park owner or operator to vary the terms of a written or oral rental agreement without notification to the tenant. (6) Condemnation or change of use of the mobile and manufactured home park. (b) No tenancy, however created, in a mobile and manufactured home park may be terminated by a mobile and manufactured home park owner or operator except upon giving notice in writing to the tenant in the manner prescribed in this chapter to remove from the premises within a period of not less than sixty (60) days; provided that upon grounds of nonpayment of rent, a tenancy may be terminated upon giving thirty (30) days notice.
Rhode Island General Laws § 31-44-2 limits the circumstances under which a mobile or manufactured home park owner or operator may end a tenancy. Eviction is only permitted for specific reasons — such as nonpayment of rent, repeated disturbance of neighbors, property damage, or a change in land use — and the process must follow prescribed notice periods: at least 60 days in most cases, or 30 days for nonpayment of rent. Importantly, a tenant facing eviction for nonpayment has the right to stop the eviction by paying all overdue amounts, including any applicable late charges, before the notice period expires. Jurisdiction over disputes under this chapter rests with the district court.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 31-44-2, park owners and operators in Rhode Island who manage mobile or manufactured home communities must ensure that any termination of tenancy falls within one of the enumerated grounds — such as nonpayment, rule violations, or condemnation — and that proper written notice is served. Compliant operators typically provide at least 60 days' written notice (or 30 days for nonpayment situations) and, where required, first issue a written notice of the specific violation along with a reasonable opportunity to cure before proceeding. When amending park rules and regulations, operators generally provide three months' written notice or obtain written acknowledgment from tenants, and maintain documentation of all notices and tenant communications to support any future district court proceedings under this chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 31-44-2 of Rhode Island law provides mobile and manufactured home park tenants with significant protections against eviction, including the right to cure a nonpayment situation by paying all arrearages and applicable late fees before the notice period runs out. Tenants are also entitled to written notice and a reasonable opportunity to correct alleged rule violations or regulatory noncompliance before an eviction action can proceed. Tenants who believe a park owner has not followed the required grounds or notice procedures under this chapter may raise those procedural requirements as a defense in district court, or may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Rhode Island manufactured housing law 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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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation