R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 45-24.3 § 45-24.3-16
Rules and regulations — Enforcement agencies — Housing board of review
Operative Text
(a) The local authority is authorized to make, adopt, revise, and amend rules and regulations that it deems necessary for the carrying out of the purposes of this chapter. (b) Establishment of enforcement agencies. The local authority will further provide for the creation and establishment of divisions, offices, departments, bureaus, and agencies and their respective officers, deputies, and agencies that may be required to enforce and administer the powers and duties authorized by this chapter. (c) Housing board of review. The local authority will provide for the selection and organization of a housing board of review consisting of five (5) members, provided that the Westerly housing board of review shall have three (3) members, with two (2) members constituting a quorum. The local authority is authorized to designate the board of appeals as the housing board of review in the cities and towns where these boards of appeal now exist or may be authorized by law. The chairperson or, in his or her absence, the acting chairperson, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All hearings of the board are open to the public. Any housing board of review established pursuant to this chapter shall be governed by the following procedure: (1) The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote upon each question, and keep records of its decisions and findings and the reasons therefor, and of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be filed immediately in the office of the board and be a public record. (2) The housing board of review is governed by § 45-24.3-21 pertaining to appeals.
Section 45-24.3-16 of Rhode Island General Laws establishes the structural framework for local housing code enforcement. It authorizes local authorities to create rules, set up enforcement agencies, and organize a housing board of review—typically a five-member body (three members in Westerly)—to hear housing-related matters. All board hearings must be open to the public, and the board is required to maintain detailed, publicly accessible records of its proceedings, votes, decisions, and findings. Appeals from the board are governed by § 45-24.3-21.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 45-24.3-16, local authorities have broad power to adopt and revise housing regulations and to establish the agencies that enforce them, meaning the rules a property owner must follow can be updated by the local authority over time. Compliant operators generally stay informed about local housing code amendments and any decisions issued by the housing board of review in their jurisdiction. Because board records and hearings are public under this section, landlords can review past decisions to understand how local enforcement agencies have interpreted the chapter's requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 45-24.3-16 guarantees that housing board of review hearings are open to the public and that all decisions, findings, and votes must be kept as public records—rights that allow tenants to observe proceedings and access documentation relevant to their housing situation. If a local enforcement agency takes action—or fails to act—under this chapter, the housing board of review established by this section provides a formal venue where such matters can be heard. Tenants who believe a violation of this chapter has occurred may consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how the appeals process under § 45-24.3-21 interacts with the board's procedures.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation