R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-37 § 34-37-5.5
Freedom of condominium owners and apartment renters to display certain religious items
Operative Text
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a landlord or owner, as defined in § 34-18-11; a management committee, as defined in § 34-36-3; or an association of unit owners, as defined in § 34-36.1-1.03 (hereinafter "property owners"); may not enforce or adopt a restrictive covenant or otherwise prohibit a unit owner or tenant from displaying or affixing on the entry to the unit owner's or tenant's dwelling one or more religious items, the display of which is motivated by the unit owner's or tenant's sincere religious belief. (b) This section does not prohibit the enforcement or adoption of a covenant that, to the extent allowed by the constitutions of this state and the United States, prohibits the display or affixing of a religious item on the entry to the unit owner's or tenant's dwelling that: (1) Threatens the public health or safety; (2) Violates the provisions of chapter 37 of title 34 or any other state or federal law barring discrimination in housing, or any other law; (3) Is in a location other than the entry door or door frame or extends past the outer edge of the door frame of the unit owner's or resident's dwelling; or (4) Individually, or in combination with each other religious item displayed or affixed on the entry door or door frame, has a total size of greater than twenty-five (25) square inches. (c) Except as otherwise provided, this section does not authorize a unit owner or tenant to use a material or color for an entry door or door frame of the owner's or resident's dwelling or make an alteration to the entry door or door frame that is not authorized by the restrictive covenant governing the dwelling. (d) A property owner's association may remove an item displayed in violation of a restrictive covenant permitted by this section.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-37-5.5 establishes that landlords, condo associations, and management committees generally cannot prohibit residents from displaying religious items at the entry to their dwelling when that display is driven by sincere religious belief. However, the protection has defined limits: items must be placed on or within the door frame, must not exceed 25 square inches in total, must not pose a public health or safety threat, and must not violate fair housing or other applicable laws. Property owners retain the authority to remove items that fall outside these boundaries, and residents do not gain any new rights to alter the color or material of a door or door frame beyond what existing covenants already allow.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-37-5.5, compliant property owners and associations generally refrain from adopting or enforcing blanket bans on religious displays at unit entries, recognizing that sincere religious belief is a protected basis for such displays. Operators who do maintain display-related covenants typically ensure those rules are narrowly drawn to address only the specific exceptions the statute permits—such as items exceeding 25 square inches, items placed outside the door frame, or items that raise health or safety concerns. When an item is displayed in a manner that falls outside the statute's protections, § 34-37-5.5(d) permits the association or property owner to remove it, and documenting the basis for removal in writing is a practice consistent with transparent property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-37-5.5 of Rhode Island General Laws gives unit owners and tenants the right to display religious items at their dwelling's entry when motivated by sincere religious belief, as long as the display stays within the door frame and does not exceed 25 square inches in total. If a landlord, condo association, or management committee attempts to prohibit or remove a display that appears to meet these requirements, a resident may have grounds to raise the statute as a defense or to file a complaint with a relevant housing authority. Tenants and unit owners who believe their rights under § 34-37-5.5 have been violated may also consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or fair housing agency for general 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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