R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 45-24.3 § 45-24.3-19.1
Avoiding residential demolition through owner neglect
Operative Text
A city or town may by ordinance empower city or town councils in consultation with the local building inspection or code enforcement office, to identify residential structures the physical condition of which have deteriorated so as to endanger the preservation of the structure or its appurtenances. Upon the petition to the local building inspection office or code enforcement office that a residential structure is so determined that its preservation is endangered, the town or city council may establish a reasonable time not less than thirty (30) days within which the owner(s) must begin repairs. If the owner(s) have not begun repairs within the time allowed, the council or a body it may designate may conduct a hearing at which the owner(s) may appear and state their reasons for not commencing repairs. If the owner(s) do not appear at the hearing or do not comply with the council's orders, the council may cause the required repairs to be made at the expense of the city or town, and cause a lien to be placed against the property for repayments.
Rhode Island General Laws § 45-24.3-19.1 allows municipalities to adopt local ordinances that give city or town councils the authority to identify deteriorating residential structures whose condition threatens their preservation. Once a structure is flagged through the local building or code enforcement office, the council can set a repair deadline of at least 30 days. If the owner fails to begin repairs and does not respond to a subsequent hearing, the municipality may carry out the repairs itself and place a lien on the property to recover those costs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 45-24.3-19.1, a compliant property owner generally responds promptly when the local building inspection or code enforcement office identifies a residential structure as deteriorating to the point of endangerment. Owners who receive a repair notice typically begin work within the council-established timeframe—no fewer than 30 days—and attend any scheduled hearing if repairs cannot start on time. Failing to act or appear can result in the municipality completing the repairs and recording a lien against the property for the full cost of that work.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 45-24.3-19.1 establishes a process through which tenants or other community members may petition the local building inspection or code enforcement office when a residential structure's physical condition has deteriorated to the point of endangering its preservation. If the municipality determines the structure qualifies, the council must give the owner at least 30 days to begin repairs, and a hearing process follows if the owner does not comply. Tenants who believe their building meets this threshold may consider contacting their local building or code enforcement office, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for information about how this provision might apply to their situation.
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 Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation