R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-22.3
Nonresident landlord to designate agent for service of process
Operative Text
A landlord who is not a resident of this state shall designate and continuously maintain an agent upon whom service may be made of any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served, including, but not limited to, notices of minimum housing code violations. The agent shall be a resident of this state or a corporation authorized to do business in this state. The landlord's designation shall be in writing, shall include the name and address of the agent, shall include the street address of each property designated to the agent, and shall be filed with the secretary of state and with the clerk of the city or town wherein the dwelling unit is located. Any landlord who fails to comply with the requirements of this section shall be subject to a civil fine of one hundred dollars ($100) per month up to a maximum of one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) in a calendar year or if the monthly rent exceeds one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200), the civil fine shall be one month's rent for the calendar year, payable to the municipality.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-22.3 requires landlords who live outside Rhode Island to formally designate a local agent — either a state resident or a corporation authorized to do business in Rhode Island — who can receive legal notices, process, and demands on the landlord's behalf. The designation must be in writing, identify the agent's name and address, list the street address of each covered property, and be filed with both the Secretary of State and the clerk of the city or town where the rental unit is located. Landlords who fail to meet these requirements face civil fines of $100 per month, capped at $1,200 per calendar year, or one month's rent for the year if monthly rent exceeds $1,200, with fines payable to the municipality.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Out-of-state property owners subject to § 34-18-22.3 generally keep a written agent designation on file with the Rhode Island Secretary of State and the local city or town clerk, updating those filings whenever an agent changes to satisfy the 'continuously maintain' requirement. A compliant designation names a Rhode Island-resident individual or a corporation authorized to do business in the state, and lists the street address of every property the agent covers. Operators who let this filing lapse risk accumulating civil fines of up to $1,200 per calendar year — or one month's rent if that figure is higher — paid directly to the municipality.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 34-18-22.3, tenants renting from an out-of-state landlord have a right to have legal notices and demands — including housing code violation notices — served on a locally designated agent, making it easier to initiate or respond to legal proceedings without tracking down an out-of-state party. If a landlord has not filed the required agent designation, that failure may be relevant in legal proceedings, and tenants can check the Rhode Island Secretary of State's records or the local city or town clerk's office to verify whether a valid designation exists. Tenants who believe this provision has not been followed may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Rhode Island landlord-tenant law for information about available options.
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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