R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-14
Notice
Operative Text
(a)(1) A person has notice of a fact if: (i) He or she has actual knowledge of it; (ii) He or she has received a notice or notification of it; or (iii) From all the facts and circumstances known to him or her at the time in question he or she has reason to know that it exists. (2) A person "knows" or "has knowledge" of a fact if he or she has actual knowledge of it. (b) A person "notifies" or "gives" a notice or notification to another person by taking steps reasonably calculated to inform the other in ordinary course whether or not the other actually comes to know of it. A person "receives" a notice or notification when: (1) It comes to his or her attention; or (2) It is delivered in hand or sent by first class mail to him or her at a place held out by him or her as the place for receipt of the communication, or in the absence of such designation, to his or her last known place of residence. (c) "Notice," knowledge or a notice or notification received by an organization, is effective for a particular transaction from the time it is brought to the attention of the individual conducting that transaction, and in any event from the time it would have been brought to his or her attention if the organization had exercised reasonable diligence.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-14 establishes what it means for a landlord or tenant to have 'notice' under the state's residential landlord-tenant law. A person is considered to have notice of a fact if they actually know it, have received a communication about it, or had enough surrounding information that they reasonably should have known it existed. Delivering notice properly—by hand or first-class mail to a known address—satisfies the legal requirement to notify, even if the recipient never actually reads the communication.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-18-14, property owners and managers generally ensure that any required notice—such as entry notifications, lease termination notices, or repair communications—is delivered by hand or sent via first-class mail to the tenant's residence or another address the tenant has designated for receiving communications. Keeping records of when and how notices were sent helps demonstrate compliance with the delivery standards the statute describes. For organizations managing multiple units, § 34-18-14(c) makes clear that notice is effective once it reaches the individual handling the relevant transaction, or when it would have reached them had the organization exercised reasonable diligence.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-18-14 of Rhode Island's landlord-tenant law defines the notice standards that apply to both parties in a rental relationship, which can be relevant when a landlord claims they properly notified a tenant of something—or when a tenant needs to establish that they gave proper notice. Under this provision, a tenant who sends written communication by first-class mail to the landlord's known address or designated place of receipt has generally met the legal standard for giving notice. Tenants who believe a notice was improperly delivered or that a landlord had constructive knowledge of a condition may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Rhode Island housing law.
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.
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