R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-62
Inquiries regarding immigration status
Operative Text
(a) No landlord or any agent of the landlord shall: (1) Make any inquiry regarding or based on the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant of residential rental property; or (2) Require that any tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant of the rental property make any statement, representation, or certification concerning their immigration or citizenship status. (b) No municipality or housing agency shall compel a landlord or any agent of the landlord to make any inquiry, compile, disclose, report, or provide any information, prohibit offering or continuing to offer accommodations in the property for rent or lease, or otherwise take any action regarding or based on the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant of residential rental property. (c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a landlord from: (1) Complying with any legal obligation under federal law; or (2) Requesting information or documentation necessary to determine or verify the financial qualifications of a prospective tenant, or to determine or verify the identity of a prospective tenant or prospective occupant.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-62 prohibits landlords and their agents from asking about or requiring disclosures related to a tenant's, prospective tenant's, or occupant's immigration or citizenship status. Municipalities and housing agencies are similarly barred from compelling landlords to gather or report such information. The law carves out exceptions for compliance with federal legal obligations and for standard financial-qualification or identity-verification inquiries.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-18-62, compliant residential landlords and their agents refrain from asking applicants or current tenants any questions about immigration or citizenship status, whether on applications, in interviews, or in lease documents. Landlords are also shielded from local government pressure to collect or report such information. Standard screening practices—such as verifying income, credit history, or identity for qualification purposes—remain permissible under the statute's express exceptions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-18-62 of Rhode Island's residential landlord-tenant law gives tenants and applicants the right to be free from landlord inquiries or requirements concerning immigration or citizenship status. If a landlord or their agent asks such questions or demands related disclosures, that conduct may constitute a violation of this provision. Tenants who believe this protection has been violated can explore options such as contacting a local tenant-rights organization, reaching out to the Rhode Island Attorney General's office, or consulting a legal aid provider familiar with § 34-18-62.
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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