Housing (Building Codes)

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2026

SB 3301: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Authorizes municipalities to make an emergency declaration under limited circumstances to allow for the construction and use of SAFE Units on a temporary basis which have specialized requirements and exemptions from the state fire and building codes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill enables emergency construction of SAFE Units, expanding temporary housing options and addressing shelter needs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 7, 2026

SB 2901: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODE

Allows for a tenant to withhold payment of rent and deposit the rent accruing into an escrow bearing account, upon the issuance of a second notice of violation by an enforcing officer for any state or local minimum housing code enforcement agency.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill strengthens tenant protections by allowing rent withholding for housing code violations, advancing tenant rights and housing safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes Renters Tenant Rights

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 7658: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODE -- NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS

Requires a housing code enforcement officer to give a copy of any housing code violation notice to all tenants of the building affected by a housing code violation along with any hearing dates scheduled for the violation.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires housing code violation notices and hearing dates to be provided to all tenants, enhancing tenant awareness and protections per housing code enforcement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes Landlords Tenant Rights

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 8002: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Permits the construction of residential buildings that are up to four (4) stories and sixteen (16) dwelling units with a single staircase under certain conditions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPermits higher-density residential construction (up to 4 stories, 16 units), increasing housing supply potential without restrictions on development.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 7530: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Exempts homes under two thousand (2,000) square feet from automatic statewide IECC energy mandates, allowing municipalities to decide whether to adopt climate-focused building code requirements for small and modest homes.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExempts small homes from statewide IECC energy mandates, weakening uniform climate-focused building code requirements by allowing municipalities to opt out.92% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts small homes from automatic IECC energy mandates, weakening statewide climate-focused building code requirements and allowing municipalities to opt out of environmental standards.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts small homes from energy mandates, reducing construction costs and potentially enabling more affordable housing development by easing regulatory burdens.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 7148: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REHABILITATION BUILDING AND FIRE CODE FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES

Expands the Rhode Island rehabilitation and fire code to include existing one, two, and three-bedroom homes, removing their current exclusion and promoting the continued use and reuse of existing residential buildings.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves exclusion of small homes from rehabilitation code, promoting reuse of existing housing. This supports affordable housing by enabling rehabilitation of more units without new construction.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 9, 2026

SB 2269: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODE -- NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS

Requires a housing code enforcement officer to give a copy of any housing code violation notice to all tenants of the building affected by an alleged housing code violation, along with any hearing dates scheduled for the violation.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires housing code violation notices to be given to all tenants, strengthening tenant rights and transparency in enforcement procedures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes Tenant Rights

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 7447: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING -- PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION

Restores the requirement that a local review board issue findings for denial in reviewing a comprehensive permit request and clarifies that affordable housing units shall be included in each town and city when the building permits for units are granted.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates inclusion of affordable housing units in building permits, advancing affordable housing development as required by the bill's summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Building Codes

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 2275: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING -- PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION

Restores the requirement that a local review board issue findings for denial in reviewing a comprehensive permit request and clarifies that affordable housing units shall be included in each town and city when the building permits for units are granted.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates inclusion of affordable housing units in new permits and requires review boards to justify denials, directly advancing affordable housing development goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Building Codes

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