R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-37 § 34-37-2
Right to equal housing opportunities — Civil rights
Operative Text
The right of all individuals in the state to equal housing opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, lawful source of income, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or regardless of the fact that a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or has been, or is threatened with being the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, is hereby recognized as, and declared to be, a civil right. Nothing in this section shall prevent a landlord from proceeding with eviction action against a tenant who fails to comply with § 34-18-24(7).
Section 34-37-2 of Rhode Island law establishes that every person in the state holds a civil right to equal access to housing. This protection covers a broad range of characteristics, including race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, familial status, military or veteran status, lawful source of income, and domestic-abuse victim status, among others. The provision also clarifies that this civil-rights designation does not shield a tenant from eviction proceedings brought under the state's residential landlord-tenant act when the tenant has failed to meet certain obligations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-37-2, operators of residential housing in Rhode Island are expected to evaluate all applicants and tenants without regard to the protected characteristics enumerated in the statute, which include categories such as country of ancestral origin, marital status, and domestic-abuse victim status. Compliant operators generally maintain consistent screening criteria, apply them uniformly, and avoid policies that single out any protected class. Because the provision explicitly preserves the right to pursue eviction for lease violations under § 34-18-24(7), landlords may still act on legitimate lease-compliance grounds through proper legal channels.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-37-2 declares that equal housing opportunity is a civil right in Rhode Island, meaning applicants and tenants are protected from discrimination based on characteristics such as disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, lawful source of income, and domestic-abuse victim status, among others. Individuals who believe a housing provider has denied or limited their housing based on a protected characteristic may have grounds to raise that violation as a defense in a housing proceeding or to file a complaint with a relevant state or federal fair-housing agency. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices familiar with Rhode Island fair-housing law can help individuals understand the options available under § 34-37-2.
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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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation