Rhode Island Enacts Fair Chance Housing Law Prohibiting Blanket Criminal Record Rental Bans

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island enacted the Fair Chance in Housing Act, establishing strict statutory limitations on how landlords and residential property managers evaluate criminal background checks during the rental application process.

Removing Re-entry Barriers for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

The legislation prohibits housing providers from asking about arrest records that did not lead to conviction and establishes a two-step application process where background checks may only be reviewed after a conditional tenancy offer is made. The statute requires landlords to conduct an individualized assessment considering the age of the offense and evidence of rehabilitation before revoking a conditional lease offer, with exemptions for federally registered lifetime sex offenders.

Bill authors and civil rights advocates highlighted that stable housing is the single most effective deterrent against recidivism, allowing formerly incarcerated residents to successfully reintegrate into society.

Property Owner Protections and Re-entry Coalitions

Re-entry support organizations celebrated the enactment, citing significant reductions in homelessness among individuals returning from state correctional facilities.

Property manager associations worked with lawmakers to establish clear statutory lookback time limits of 5 years for non-violent felonies.

Enforcement Date

The Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights will begin active enforcement of the Fair Chance Housing Act on January 1, 2027.