Rhode Island Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
Rhode Island rules on mold, pests, heat & ac for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statute — general habitability/repair duty applies. Rhode Island has no mold disclosure, remediation or exposure-standard law for rentals; R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-22(a)(1)-(2)
The rules in Rhode Island
| Mold | No statute — general habitability/repair duty applies. Rhode Island has no mold disclosure, remediation or exposure-standard law for rentals; the landlord must comply with building and housing codes affecting health and safety and 'make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.' The state Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code (ch. 45-24.3) sets general sanitation and maintenance standards but does not specifically address mold. Tenant remedies include limited self-help repairs (§ 34-18-30) and code enforcement. |
|---|---|
| Pests & bed bugs | Under the state Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code, the occupant of a single-unit dwelling is responsible for extermination of insects, rodents and other pests, and an occupant in a multi-unit building is responsible when only that occupant's unit is infested. The owner is responsible when the infestation is caused by the owner's failure to keep the building rodent-proof or reasonably insect-proof, and whenever two or more units or shared/public areas are infested. No bed-bug-specific statute. 'Extermination' and 'infestation' are defined in § 45-24.3-5. The landlord must also comply with housing codes and keep common areas clean and safe (§ 34-18-22). Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24.3-6(i) |
| Heat | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat as required by the state housing code (or stricter local code) between October 1 and May 1. Heating facilities must be capable of heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet compartments to at least 68°F, measured 18 inches above the floor, under average winter conditions. Exceptions: buildings not required to be equipped for heat, and units where the tenant controls a heating installation on a direct utility connection. Heat code: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE45/45-24.3/45-24.3-9.htm. If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat, the tenant has remedies under § 34-18-31. Unvented flame space heaters are generally prohibited. |
| Air conditioning | No state requirement to provide air conditioning or a maximum indoor temperature. Landlord-supplied air-conditioning must be maintained in good and safe working order. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-22(a)(4) |
Related questions
- Does a landlord have to fix mold?
- Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in a rental?
- Does a landlord have to provide heat?
- Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning?
Rhode Island vs. neighboring states
| State | Mold | Pests & bed bugs | Heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | No statute — general habitability/repair duty applies. Rhode Island has no mold disclosure, remediation or exposure-standard law for rentals; the landlord must comply with building and housing codes affecting health and safety and 'make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.' R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-22(a)(1)-(2) | Under the state Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code, the occupant of a single-unit dwelling is responsible for extermination of insects, rodents and other pests, and an occupant in a multi-unit building is responsible when only that occupant's unit is infested. The owner is responsible when the infestation is caused by the owner's failure to keep the building rodent-proof or reasonably insect-proof, and whenever two or more units or shared/public areas are infested. No bed-bug-specific statute. R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24.3-6(i) | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat as required by the state housing code (or stricter local code) between October 1 and May 1. Heating facilities must be capable of heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet compartments to at least 68°F, measured 18 inches above the floor, under average winter conditions. Exceptions: buildings not required to be equipped for heat, and units where the tenant controls a heating installation on a direct utility connection. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-18-22(a)(6), 45-24.3-9(1) |
| Connecticut | No statute — general habitability/repair duty applies. Connecticut has no mold-specific disclosure or remediation law for rentals. The landlord must comply with the tenement-house law and all building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety, and make all repairs needed to keep the premises fit and habitable. Stricter local codes take precedence. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7(a)(1)-(2), (b) | Connecticut has a detailed bed-bug statute. The tenant must promptly tell the landlord orally or in writing about a known or suspected infestation. Within five business days the landlord must inspect (or have a qualified inspector inspect) the unit and contiguous units it owns, and if bed bugs are found, begin effective treatment within five business days. The landlord pays for inspection and treatment; the tenant pays to prepare the unit and must cooperate, and can be liable for extra treatments caused by knowing, unreasonable noncompliance. The landlord may not rent a unit it knows or suspects is infested, must disclose current infestations in the unit or contiguous units before renting, and on request must give the date of the last clean inspection. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7a | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat, unless the building is not required by law to have heating or the heat is generated by equipment in the tenant's exclusive control or supplied by a direct utility connection, and must keep heating facilities in good and safe working order. If the landlord fails to supply heat for reasons within its control, the tenant may give notice and buy heat and deduct the cost from rent, or get substitute housing if not restored within 48 hours. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-7(a)(4), (6), 47a-13 |
| Massachusetts | Yes, under the State Sanitary Code. Owners must keep buildings and structural elements watertight and free from excess moisture or the appearance of mold. After leaks or flooding, the owner must dry all surfaces within 48 hours of being notified or of the end of the event, whichever is sooner. No room may be used for habitation if it is subject to excess moisture. Code violations are enforced by the local board of health, and any violation not otherwise listed is deemed a condition that may endanger health or safety. Occupants must use building elements with reasonable care. No statute requires mold disclosure to tenants. 105 CMR 410.500(A)(1), (B); 410.510; 410.420(A); 410.630(A)(18); 410.020 ('Chronic Dampness') | Set by the State Sanitary Code. In buildings with 2 or more units (and rooming houses), the owner must keep the building free from infestation and is responsible for extermination, including bed bugs. In single-unit residences, the occupant is responsible unless the owner failed to maintain the structure to keep pests out. Owners must inspect each unit for pests before a new tenancy and keep documented results. Occupants must keep units sanitary and give access and follow preparation instructions for pesticide treatments. Commercial applicators must give 48 hours' written pre-notification. Failure to keep premises pest-free is a condition deemed to endanger health or safety. 105 CMR 410.550; 410.630(A)(17) | Yes. The owner must heat every habitable room and bathroom from September 15 through May 31: at least 68°F from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and at least 64°F from 11:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. Temperature is measured 5 feet above the floor, more than 5 feet from an exterior wall. A local board of health may shorten the season, ending it no earlier than May 15 or starting it no later than September 30. Failure to provide required heat is a condition deemed to endanger health or safety. 105 CMR 410.180(A), (C), (D); 410.630 |
City rules that may add to state law
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- Free legal help in Rhode Island
Compare mold, pests, heat & ac in all 50 states and DC →
Rhode Island Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules FAQ
Does a landlord have to fix mold in Rhode Island?
No statute — general habitability/repair duty applies. Rhode Island has no mold disclosure, remediation or exposure-standard law for rentals; the landlord must comply with building and housing codes affecting health and safety and 'make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.' (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-22(a)(1)-(2))
Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in Rhode Island?
Under the state Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code, the occupant of a single-unit dwelling is responsible for extermination of insects, rodents and other pests, and an occupant in a multi-unit building is responsible when only that occupant's unit is infested. The owner is responsible when the infestation is caused by the owner's failure to keep the building rodent-proof or reasonably insect-proof, and whenever two or more units or shared/public areas are infested. No bed-bug-specific statute. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24.3-6(i))
Does a landlord have to provide heat in Rhode Island?
Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat as required by the state housing code (or stricter local code) between October 1 and May 1. Heating facilities must be capable of heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet compartments to at least 68°F, measured 18 inches above the floor, under average winter conditions. Exceptions: buildings not required to be equipped for heat, and units where the tenant controls a heating installation on a direct utility connection. (R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-18-22(a)(6), 45-24.3-9(1))
Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning in Rhode Island?
No state requirement to provide air conditioning or a maximum indoor temperature. Landlord-supplied air-conditioning must be maintained in good and safe working order. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-22(a)(4))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.