§ 34-37-1. Finding and declaration of policy. (a) In the State of Rhode Island, hereinafter referred to as the state, many people are denied equal opportunity in obtaining housing accommodations and are forced to live in circumscribed areas because of discriminatory housing practices based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, […]
§ 34-37-10. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall, for any reason, be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this chapter or its application to other […]
§ 34-37-11. Short title. This chapter may be cited as “The Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act”. History of Section.P.L. 1965, ch. 27, § 1.
§ 34-37-2. Right to equal housing opportunities — Civil rights. The right of all individuals in the state to equal housing opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, lawful source of income, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative […]
§ 34-37-2.1. Right to equal housing opportunities — Age. Whenever in this chapter there shall appear the word “sex” there shall be inserted immediately thereafter the word “age.” History of Section.P.L. 1979, ch. 144, § 3.
§ 34-37-2.2. Right to equal housing opportunities — Sexual orientation. Whenever in this chapter there shall appear the word “sex” there shall be inserted immediately thereafter the words “sexual orientation”. History of Section.P.L. 1995, ch. 32, § 1.
§ 34-37-2.3. Right to equal housing opportunities — Gender identity or expression. Whenever in this chapter there shall appear the words “sexual orientation” there shall be inserted immediately thereafter the words “gender identity or expression.” History of Section.P.L. 2001, ch. 340, § 1.
§ 34-37-2.4. Right to equal housing opportunities — Victims of domestic violence status. It shall be unlawful and against public policy to discriminate against a tenant or applicant for housing solely on the basis that said tenant or applicant is a victim of domestic violence. History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 118, § 1; P.L. 2002, […]
§ 34-37-3. Definitions. When used in this chapter: (1) “Age” means anyone over the age of eighteen (18). (2) “Armed forces” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, or Air Force of the United States and the Rhode Island National Guard. (3) “Commission” means the Rhode Island commission for human rights created […]
§ 34-37-4. Unlawful housing practices. (a) No owner having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a housing accommodation as defined in § 34-37-3, or an agent of any of these, shall, directly or indirectly, make, or cause to be made, any written or oral inquiry concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, […]
§ 34-37-4.1. Discrimination in familial status — Exemptions. (a) Nothing in this chapter requires an owner of a housing accommodation to rent to a family with children if: (1) The housing accommodation is two (2) units, one of which is occupied by the owner; (2) The housing accommodation is of four (4) units or less, […]
§ 34-37-4.2. Exemptions — Religious organizations and private clubs. (a) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a religious organization, association, or society or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association, or society from limiting the sale, rental, or occupancy of a dwelling which it […]
§ 34-37-4.3. Discrimination in granting credit or loans prohibited. No financial organization governed by the provisions of title 19 or any other credit granting commercial institution may discriminate in the granting or extension of any form of loan or credit, or the privilege or capacity to obtain any form of loan or credit, on the […]
§ 34-37-4.4. [Repealed.] History of Section.P.L. 1995, ch. 32, § 1; repealed by P.L. 2021, ch. 124, § 4, effective July 2, 2021; repealed by P.L. 2021, ch. 125, § 4, effective July 2, 2021.
§ 34-37-4.5. [Repealed.] History of Section.P.L. 2001, ch. 340, § 1; repealed by P.L. 2021, ch. 124, § 4, effective July 2, 2021; repealed by P.L. 2021, ch. 125, § 4, effective July 2, 2021.
§ 34-37-4.6. Discrimination based on lawful source of income — Exemption. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit an owner of a housing accommodation from refusing to rent to a person based on their lawful source of income if the housing accommodation is three (3) units or less, one of which is occupied by the owner. […]
§ 34-37-5. Prevention of unlawful housing practices. (a) The commission is empowered and directed to prevent any person from violating any of the provisions of this chapter, provided that before instituting a formal proceeding, it shall attempt by informal methods of conference, persuasion, and conciliation to induce compliance with this chapter. (b) Upon the commission’s […]
§ 34-37-5.1. Interference, coercion, or intimidation. It shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his or her having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his or her having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment […]
§ 34-37-5.2. Discrimination in brokerage services. It shall be unlawful to deny any person who meets licensing and other non-discriminatory requirements that are also applied to other applicants and members access to, or membership or participation in, any real estate listing service, real estate brokers’ organization, or other service, organization, or facility relating to the […]
§ 34-37-5.3. Fostering of segregated housing prohibited. It shall be an unlawful discriminatory housing practice to for profit induce, or attempt to induce, any person to sell or rent any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, marital status, […]
