R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 31-44 § 31-44-9
Enforceability
Operative Text
(a) Any provision of this chapter and any provision of a license issued pursuant to this chapter may be enforced by the department of business regulation. In addition to and notwithstanding any action taken by or pending at the department of business regulation, any resident of a mobile home park may seek to enforce any provision of a license or this chapter by civil action in the court exercising jurisdiction over the subject matter. However, failure to comply with tax laws and violations of land use regulations and water supply and sewage disposal requirements shall be subject to the jurisdiction of and shall be enforceable by, the municipality in which the park is located and/or the state agency having regulatory authority over the matter. (b) Any park owner or operator who violates any of the provisions of §§ 31-44-3, 31-44-3.1, 31-44-3.2, 31-44-4, 31-44-5, 31-44-7, 31-44-7.1, 31-44-7.2, 31-44-8 and 31-44-13 shall be deemed to have engaged in an unfair and deceptive trade practice under § 6-13.1-2 and, in addition to other remedies, shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of that chapter.
Rhode Island General Laws § 31-44-9 establishes multiple avenues for enforcing the state's mobile home park regulations. The Department of Business Regulation holds primary enforcement authority over the chapter's provisions and any licenses issued under it, but individual mobile home park residents may also bring civil actions in court to enforce those same rules independently. Certain violations—such as failures to comply with tax laws or land use, water, and sewage regulations—fall under the jurisdiction of the local municipality or the relevant state agency. Park owners or operators who violate specific sections of the chapter may additionally be treated as having committed an unfair and deceptive trade practice under Rhode Island's consumer protection law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 31-44-9, park owners and operators face enforcement exposure from multiple directions simultaneously: the Department of Business Regulation, individual residents through civil court, and—for certain environmental or land-use matters—local municipalities or other state agencies. Compliant operators generally maintain their licenses in good standing, adhere to the specific sections enumerated in subsection (b), and ensure their practices do not trigger Rhode Island's unfair and deceptive trade practices statute (§ 6-13.1-2), which carries its own separate set of remedies. Operators typically keep thorough records of compliance with water supply, sewage disposal, and land-use requirements to address any municipal or state agency inquiries that may arise independently of the Department of Business Regulation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 31-44-9 gives mobile home park residents a direct right to bring a civil action in court to enforce any provision of Chapter 31-44 or any condition of a park's license, regardless of whether the Department of Business Regulation has already taken action or has a matter pending. If a park owner or operator has violated one of the specific sections listed in subsection (b), that conduct may also constitute an unfair and deceptive trade practice, potentially opening additional legal remedies under Rhode Island's consumer protection framework. Residents who believe their rights under Chapter 31-44 have been violated may consider contacting the Department of Business Regulation, consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with mobile home park law, or exploring the civil court process to understand which enforcement path fits their circumstances.
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
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation