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SB 709

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODE -- NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Bissaillon and 3 co-sponsors

SB 709 modifies Rhode Island municipal housing code violation notice procedures, affecting how landlords are informed of property maintenance violations and enforcement timelines.

06/12/2025 Senate read and passed
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 709

Legislative bill overview

SB 709 modifies Rhode Island's housing maintenance and occupancy code procedures by changing how municipalities must notify property owners of code violations. The bill appears to establish new requirements or standards for the notice process that cities and towns must follow when citing housing violations.

Why is this important

Housing code enforcement directly affects rental property conditions and tenant safety. Changes to violation notice procedures can impact how quickly landlords respond to repairs, influence the effectiveness of code enforcement, and affect both property owner compliance costs and tenant housing quality protections.

Potential points of contention

  • Landlord compliance burden: Stricter or more formal notice requirements could delay enforcement timelines or create procedural obstacles that benefit property owners over tenants seeking repairs
  • Municipal enforcement capacity: New notice procedures may require additional administrative resources from already-stretched local code enforcement departments
  • Tenant protection balance: Depending on implementation, changes could either strengthen tenant protections through clearer procedures or weaken them by creating technical defenses for non-compliant landlords

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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