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 Apr 7, 2026

HB 7659: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

Prohibits contractors from submitting a single application to a local review board seeking a comprehensive permit for housing projects in certain circumstances.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingProhibits single application for housing permits, increasing development barriers for low/moderate income projects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Building Codes Zoning

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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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signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 2632: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Adopts 2024 International Residential Code for 1 to 3 family dwelling units by 1/1/27/establishes moratorium on changes to building codes applicable to dwelling units until 1/1/31 unless approved by legislature with procedures for amending building code.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingProhibits code amendments for small residential units until 2030, limiting housing development flexibility and affordability initiatives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 19, 2026

HB 7774: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Amends the state building code and would require that the state adopt the 2024 International Residential Code and prohibit the state building committee from adopting amendments for one to four residential dwelling units until 2030.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingProhibits building code amendments for small residential units until 2030, limiting housing development flexibility and potential affordability efforts.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

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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