Rhode Island (RI) eviction guide
Quick answer
To evict a tenant in Rhode Island, start with the correct written notice: 5 days for nonpayment of rent, 20 days for a lease violation, or 30 days to end a month-to-month tenancy. If the tenant does not comply, file a complaint in Rhode Island District Court (filing fee about $80). From first notice to lockout typically takes 3 to 8 weeks depending on the grounds and whether the tenant contests.
| Legal grounds | Nonpayment of rent, lease violation, end of tenancy, illegal activity |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 5 days (nonpayment of rent) |
| Where to file | Rhode Island District Court |
| Filing fee | About $80 |
| Typical timeframe | 3 to 8 weeks |
Used when rent is at least 15 days overdue; tenant must pay in full or vacate within 5 days (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35).
Used for a material lease violation or habitability breach; tenant has 20 days to fix the issue or the tenancy terminates (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-36).
Used to end a month-to-month tenancy without cause; no cure option is available.
Landlord may file immediately when a tenant engages in illegal activity such as drug manufacturing, sale, or violence on the premises.
| Step | Timeframe | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Serve the written notice | 5 to 30 days | Deliver the correct notice by hand or first-class mail; the notice period runs from the date the tenant receives it. |
| 2. File the eviction complaint | 1 to 3 days | If the tenant does not comply, file a Complaint for Eviction at the Rhode Island District Court in the county where the property is located and pay the roughly $80 filing fee. |
| 3. Serve the summons and complaint | 1 to 5 days | The court issues a summons; the landlord must serve the tenant at least 5 days before the hearing for nonpayment cases. |
| 4. Attend the court hearing | About 9 to 14 days after filing | The judge hears both sides; for nonpayment cases, a hearing is typically scheduled 9 days after the complaint is filed. |
| 5. Receive the judgment | Same day or 1 to 2 days after hearing | If the court rules for the landlord, a judgment for possession is entered; tenants may appeal within 5 days. |
| 6. Obtain and execute the writ of execution | 6 days after judgment | The writ is issued 6 days after judgment if the tenant has not vacated; a constable or sheriff carries out the physical lockout. |
Filing a complaint in Rhode Island District Court costs about $80, plus roughly $20 for the writ of execution after judgment. With process server or constable fees, total out-of-pocket costs typically run $150 to $400 before any attorney fees.
After a judgment for the landlord, the court issues a writ of execution on the sixth day if the tenant has not left. A licensed constable or sheriff posts the writ and physically removes the tenant and their belongings. Self-help evictions (changing locks, removing doors, shutting off utilities) are illegal in Rhode Island and expose the landlord to damages of three months rent or three times actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: R.I. Gen. Laws Title 34, Chapter 18 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). Self-help eviction is illegal everywhere; always follow the court process.
Rhode Island eviction FAQ
Most Rhode Island evictions take **3 to 8 weeks** from the date of notice to actual lockout. Uncontested nonpayment cases can finish in as few as 3 weeks; contested cases or those involving lease violations (which require a 20-day notice) typically run 6 to 8 weeks or longer.
The District Court filing fee is about **$80**, and the writ of execution costs roughly **$20** more. Adding constable fees and service costs, most landlords spend **$150 to $400** total, not counting any attorney fees.
No. Self-help evictions are **illegal** in Rhode Island. A landlord cannot change the locks, remove belongings, or shut off utilities to force a tenant out without a court order. Doing so can result in liability for three months rent or three times actual damages plus attorney fees.
Yes. Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35, a tenant can stop the eviction by paying all rent owed in full before the lawsuit is filed, or by paying the full amount plus court costs at the time of the hearing, provided they have not received a similar notice in the past six months.
Evictions are filed in the **Rhode Island District Court** for the county where the rental property is located. The District Court has jurisdiction over landlord-tenant matters with no dollar-amount cap under Title 34, Chapter 18.
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