Designate an in-state agent if you are a nonresident landlord
Out-of-state landlords must designate and maintain a Rhode Island agent for service of process, filed with the Secretary of State and the local clerk, or face monthly civil fines.
What Landautomate does with this page
This guide is the reading version of our Rhode Island rule base. In the app, the same rules become dated tasks on each of your Rhode Island properties, timed to your purchase date, lease dates, property age, and climate, with an email before each one is due. The free preview shows a sample of that schedule for Rhode Island in under a minute, no account needed.
Rhode Island compliance obligations
Rhode Island landlords commonly track 6 state and local compliance obligations, each listed below with its schedule, its sources, and the date we last verified it. Among them: designate an in-state agent if you are a nonresident landlord, file Rhode Island LLC annual report by May 1, and pay your quarterly property tax installment by your city or town's due date.
File Rhode Island LLC annual report by May 1
Rhode Island LLCs, including out-of-state LLCs registered to do business there, must file an annual report with the Secretary of State between February 1 and May 1 ($50, plus a $2.50 fee when filed online), and a report still missing on June 1 adds a $25 penalty and can lead to revocation proceedings.
Pay your quarterly property tax installment by your city or town's due date
Rhode Island cities and towns generally let owners pay property tax in four quarterly installments on dates each town sets (Providence the 24th of July, October, January, and April; Warwick, Cranston, and Pawtucket the 15th; many towns start in August), and a late installment draws interest set by the town at 6 to 18 percent a year, often on the whole unpaid balance.
Re-register rental units with the RI Rental Registry by Oct 1
Rhode Island landlords must register every rental unit with the Department of Health's Rental Registry and re-register by October 1 each year to update or confirm the details, and a lapse can bring fines of at least $50 per unit per month and bars filing an eviction for nonpayment of rent until the registration is current.
Return security deposit with itemized statement within 20 days of move-out
Rhode Island landlords must deliver the deposit balance with a written itemized list of any deductions (unpaid rent, reasonable cleaning and trash removal, and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear) within 20 days after the latest of the tenancy ending, delivery of possession, or the tenant giving a forwarding address, and failing to do so lets the tenant recover the amount due plus damages of twice the amount wrongfully withheld and reasonable attorney fees.
Review lead conformance certificate for pre-1978 rentals
Most Rhode Island rental units built before 1978 need a current lead certificate on file with the state Rental Registry, and a Certificate of Lead Conformance must be renewed at least every two years (by a new inspection from a licensed lead inspector, or by a notarized visual inspection affidavit while the same tenant stays two years or more), so an August check of each unit's expiry date, ahead of the October 1 re-registration, avoids registry fines of at least $125 per unit per month.
See this calendar built for your own property
The free preview takes your state and property facts and shows the schedule Landautomate would run for you, no account needed. Every new account starts with a 30-day free Pro trial, no card required.
Seasonal maintenance for Rhode Island
Landlords in Rhode Island plan upkeep around a cold climate: this guide lists 7 seasonal maintenance items for Rhode Island in calendar order, each with its timing and the date we last verified it. Among them: check ice dams and roof snow load after major storms, smoke and CO detector seasonal test, and spring thaw inspection: roof and foundation.
Check ice dams and roof snow load after major storms
January and February are Rhode Island's snowiest months, and a midwinter roof check after heavy snow catches ice dams, icicle buildup, and meltwater leaks before water works under the shingles and into ceilings and walls.
Smoke and CO detector seasonal test
An annual full test of smoke and CO detectors (beyond battery swaps) confirms every alarm actually sounds.
Spring thaw inspection: roof and foundation
Freeze-thaw cycles crack roofs and foundations; a spring inspection catches winter damage early.
Complete hurricane and coastal storm readiness check
Tropical storms and hurricanes reach Rhode Island mostly in August and September and occasionally in July, so an early July check of roof condition, drainage, sump operation, flood coverage, and the hurricane deductible leaves time for repairs and for a new flood policy's 30-day wait before peak season.
Furnace inspection before heating season
A pre-season furnace inspection prevents mid-winter heating failures and carbon monoxide risk.
Winterize exterior plumbing and irrigation
Draining exterior lines before the first hard freeze prevents burst pipes and water damage.
Gutter cleaning after leaf fall
Clearing gutters after leaf drop prevents ice dams and roofline water damage in winter.
Baseline upkeep for every rental
Every rental needs the same baseline care regardless of state: this guide tracks 16 recurring upkeep items, each with its schedule and the date we last verified it. Among them: CPA tax document preparation, gutter inspection, and HVAC filter replacement.
CPA tax document preparation
Organized records make tax filing accurate and deductions defensible.
Gutter inspection
Clear gutters prevent water intrusion, foundation, and roof damage.
HVAC filter replacement
Clean filters protect HVAC equipment and keep energy costs down.
Insurance renewal review
Confirms coverage limits and premiums still match the property risk.
LLC annual filing prep
Keeps the ownership entity in good standing with state filings.
Lease renewal planning
Planning renewals ahead of time reduces vacancy and turnover costs.
Maintenance review
Keeps small maintenance issues from turning into expensive repairs.
Owner distribution check
Verifies owner cash distributions reconcile with rent and expenses.
Pest inspection
Early pest detection prevents structural damage and habitability complaints.
Property tax review
Reviewing assessments can surface appeal opportunities and budget changes.
Rent collection review
Confirms rent was received on time and surfaces collection issues early.
Rent increase review
Keeps rent aligned with market rates and local rent regulations.
Smoke detector battery check
Working smoke and CO detectors are a life-safety and legal requirement.
Utilities minimal-service verification
Confirms vacant-property utilities stay at minimal service so pipes, alarms, and sump pumps keep working.
Utility reconciliation
Catches billing errors and unexpected usage spikes on property utilities.
Vacant property security check
Regular walkthroughs of a vacant property deter break-ins, squatting, and unnoticed damage.
Common questions
What are the compliance requirements for Rhode Island landlords?
Our reviewed rule base currently lists 6 state and local compliance obligations that Rhode Island landlords commonly track. Among them: designate an in-state agent if you are a nonresident landlord, file Rhode Island LLC annual report by May 1, and pay your quarterly property tax installment by your city or town's due date. Each obligation shows its schedule, the sources it was checked against, and the date we last verified it. This guide is general information for planning reminders, not legal advice.
What seasonal maintenance should Rhode Island landlords plan for?
The Rhode Island guide lists 7 seasonal maintenance items timed to a cold climate, in calendar order. Among them: check ice dams and roof snow load after major storms, smoke and CO detector seasonal test, and spring thaw inspection: roof and foundation. Landautomate turns each item into a dated reminder on your property calendar so the work is planned before the season arrives.
What routine upkeep should every Rhode Island rental get?
Alongside state specific work, the Rhode Island guide tracks 16 baseline upkeep items that apply to nearly every rental. Among them: CPA tax document preparation, gutter inspection, and HVAC filter replacement. These recur on a regular schedule, and Landautomate schedules each one automatically for every property you add.
How does Landautomate verify Rhode Island landlord rules?
Every rule in the Rhode Island guide goes through human review before it is published, and each rule shows the date we last verified it. Each compliance obligation links the primary sources it was checked against. Laws and deadlines change, so if you believe something here is outdated or incorrect, contact us at support@landautomate.com and we will review it promptly.
More state guides
The same reviewed calendar, for other states.
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See this calendar built for your own property
The free preview takes your state and property facts and shows the schedule Landautomate would run for you, no account needed. Every new account starts with a 30-day free Pro trial, no card required.