Laws by state / Rhode Island

Rhode Island landlord and tenant rules

The figures that decide most disputes between Rhode Island landlords and tenants, each with a calculator and the statute behind it.

Verified against the statutes 2026-10-22By RentByState Research

Rule	Rhode Island	Statute	Tool
Maximum security deposit	One month's periodic rent (plus a separate furniture deposit of up to one month's rent for furnished units where the furniture is worth $5,000 or more)	R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19	Deposit rules
Deposit return deadline	Itemized notice and refund within 20 days after the later of termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the tenant providing a forwarding address	R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19	Deposit rules
Interest on the deposit	Not required	R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19
Maximum late fee	No statutory cap	R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 (no late-fee provision)	Late fee calculator
Landlord notice, month-to-month	30 days	R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37; § 34-18-16.1; § 34-18-35	Notice calculator
Tenant notice, month-to-month	30 days	R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37; § 34-18-16.1; § 34-18-35	Notice calculator
Rent increase notice	30 days	R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37; § 34-18-16.1; § 34-18-35	Notice calculator
Pay-or-quit notice	5 days	R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37; § 34-18-16.1; § 34-18-35	Notice calculator
Rent increase cap	None statewide

Security deposits in Rhode Island

Rhode Island limits security deposits to one month's periodic rent (plus a separate furniture deposit of up to one month's rent for furnished units where the furniture is worth $5,000 or more). The deposit must be returned itemized notice and refund within 20 days after the later of termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the tenant providing a forwarding address, with an itemised list of any deductions. No interest is owed on the deposit under state law. Wrongful withholding: tenant may recover the amount due plus twice the amount wrongfully withheld and attorney fees. Text read via Wayback Machine copies (2022-2024) of the official webserver.rilin.state.ri.us pages; the official server was unreachable, so any 2025-2026 amendments to these sections would not be reflected. Full deposit rules and move-out checklist.

Late fees in Rhode Island

Rhode Island sets no statutory cap on late fees. The amount is whatever the lease says, subject to the general rule that it must not be an unconscionable penalty. There is no statutory grace period, so the lease controls when the fee starts. Calculate the maximum fee.

Notice periods in Rhode Island

A Rhode Island landlord must give 30 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the tenant must give the same. A rent increase needs 30 days’ notice. For nonpayment, the landlord must serve a 5-day notice to pay or quit before filing for eviction. Calculate the effective date of a notice.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Rhode Island?

One month's periodic rent (plus a separate furniture deposit of up to one month's rent for furnished units where the furniture is worth $5,000 or more). Wrongful withholding: tenant may recover the amount due plus twice the amount wrongfully withheld and attorney fees. Text read via Wayback Machine copies (2022-2024) of the official webserver.rilin.state.ri.us pages; the official server was unreachable, so any 2025-2026 amendments to these sections would not be reflected.

What is the maximum late fee for rent in Rhode Island?

There is no statutory maximum in Rhode Island. No statutory cap or grace period for residential late fees in Rhode Island; the lease controls. The most common lease figure nationally is 5% of monthly rent, and courts in no-cap states generally accept fees in that range while rejecting ones that look like penalties.

How much notice does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out in Rhode Island?

30 days’ written notice for a month-to-month tenancy. At least 30 days' written notice by either party for month-to-month (10 days for week-to-week; 3 months for year-to-year) Nonpayment: once rent is 15 days in arrears the landlord sends a 5-day demand notice; if unpaid within 5 days of mailing the landlord may file for eviction.

How long is a pay-or-quit notice in Rhode Island?

5 days. The tenant can stop the eviction by paying the full amount within that time.