Eviction Notice Requirements in Rhode Island
In Rhode Island a landlord may send a 5-day demand notice once rent is 15 days late, a lease violation requires a notice giving 20 days to cure, and a month-to-month tenancy ends with at least 30 days' written notice.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Rhode Island at a glance
- Notice for unpaid rent
- 5 days
- 5-day demand notice, which may be sent once rent is 15 days in arrears
- Notice for a lease violation
- 20 days
- 20-day notice to cure, with termination at least 21 days after mailing
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- 30 days
- 30 days' written notice
The rules in Rhode Island
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island rule: 5-day demand notice, which may be sent once rent is 15 days in arrears.
How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island rule: 20-day notice to cure, with termination at least 21 days after mailing.
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island rule: 30 days' written notice.
Where do the Rhode Island rules for eviction notices come from?
They come from R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-35, R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-36 and R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-37. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How Rhode Island compares
For unpaid rent, 16 jurisdictions allow a shorter notice than Rhode Island, and 23 jurisdictions require a longer one.
What this means in practice
A notice is usually the first step, not the eviction itself. A landlord generally needs a court order before a tenant can be removed, and changing the locks or cutting utilities to force a tenant out is not allowed in most states.
Serve the notice the way state law requires, keep a copy and proof of delivery, and count the days carefully: some states skip weekends and holidays.
Tenants who receive a notice can often stop the process by paying or fixing the problem within the notice period. Local legal aid offices can explain the options.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.