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State Summary
Complete Rhode Island HOA guide under the Condominium Act (§34-36.1). Statutory condo fine caps, hearing rights, lien rules, and how to fight unfair violations.
Governing Law: Rhode Island Condominium Act (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1, condominiums). Non-condominium HOAs: recorded declaration + RI Nonprofit Corporation Act (§7-6). No separate planned-community statute.
Researched by Brandon Sorensen
Max Fine
Condos: $500, or $100/day (§34-36.1-3.20)
Aggregate Cap
Condo cap is statutory; CC&R-set caps are void
Notice Period
Notice + opportunity for a hearing (§34-36.1-3.20)
Hearing
Yes — before fine (§34-36.1-3.20)
Rhode Island regulates condominiums through the Rhode Island Condominium Act (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1), a UCIOA-based statute that applies to condominiums created after July 1, 1982. Rhode Island has no separate statute for non-condominium planned communities — ordinary HOAs are governed by their recorded declaration (CC&Rs) plus the RI Nonprofit Corporation Act (§7-6).
Importantly — and contrary to a common misconception — Rhode Island does cap condominium fines by statute. Under §34-36.1-3.20, a condominium daily fine cannot exceed $100 per day (residential), and a non-daily fine cannot exceed $500 (residential). The statute also makes void any declaration, bylaw, or rule that purports to set its own maximum fine. Before any fine, the association must give the owner notice and an opportunity for a hearing. (For non-condominium HOAs, there is no statutory cap — fines come from the governing documents.)
This guide covers everything you need to know about Rhode Island HOA law: how to fight violations, your rights as a homeowner, the procedural requirements your HOA must follow, and how fines and enforcement work. Compared to neighbors like Massachusetts and Connecticut, Rhode Island's condominium fine cap is unusually protective.
Homeowners associations in Rhode Island are governed by the Rhode Island Condominium Act (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1, condominiums). Non-condominium HOAs: recorded declaration + RI Nonprofit Corporation Act (§7-6). No separate planned-community statute.. Under that statute, the maximum fine an HOA can impose is Condos: $500, or $100/day (§34-36.1-3.20), with Condo cap is statutory; CC&R-set caps are void as the aggregate limit for continuing or repeated violations.
Before a fine becomes enforceable, your HOA must give you Notice + opportunity for a hearing (§34-36.1-3.20). Rhode Island requires a hearing in the following circumstances: Yes — before fine (§34-36.1-3.20). If your HOA skipped any of these procedural steps, the fine may be challengeable on procedural grounds regardless of whether you actually violated the underlying rule.
The three guides below cover the law in depth: how to fight a violation in Rhode Island, what your rights and the HOA's obligations are under Rhode Island Condominium Act (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1, condominiums). Non-condominium HOAs: recorded declaration + RI Nonprofit Corporation Act (§7-6). No separate planned-community statute., and the specific dollar limits and lien rules that apply to fines.
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Step-by-step guide to challenging Rhode Island HOA violations. Understand the condominium fine caps and hearing rights under §34-36.1-3.20, documentation strategies, and winning appeals.
Read Guide →Complete explanation of the Rhode Island Condominium Act (§34-36.1) — statutory fine caps, records, meetings, liens, and protections against unfair HOA behavior.
Read Guide →Complete guide to Rhode Island HOA fine limits. Condominiums are capped at $500 (or $100/day) under §34-36.1-3.20, and CC&R-set caps are void. Hearing rules, liens, and state comparison.
Read Guide →Rhode Island's HOA law for condominiums is the Rhode Island Condominium Act (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1) , a UCIOA-based statute covering condominiums created after July 1, 1982.
Read the full Rhode Island HOA laws guide →Unlike many states, Rhode Island caps condominium HOA fines by statute . Under §34-36.1-3.20, a residential condominium daily fine cannot exceed $100 per day and a non-daily fine cannot exceed $500 — and any declaration, bylaw, or rule that purports to set its own maximum fine…
Read the full Rhode Island HOA fine-limits guide →Rhode Island's Condominium Act (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1) sets both the procedure and the dollar limits for condominium fines. Non-condominium HOAs follow the procedure in their own governing documents.
Read the full Rhode Island dispute guide →For condominiums, Rhode Island sets statutory caps under §34-36.1-3.20: a daily fine cannot exceed $100 per day (residential) or $500 per day (commercial), and a non-daily fine cannot exceed $500 (residential). Any declaration, bylaw, or rule that purports to set its own maximum fine is invalid. For non-condominium HOAs (which have no governing statute), fine amounts come from the governing documents and must be reasonable.
For condominiums, yes. Under §34-36.1-3.20(a), notice and the opportunity for a hearing must be provided to an alleged violator before a fine is imposed, and §34-36.1-3.02(11) lets the association levy reasonable fines only after notice and an opportunity to be heard. (The statute does not set a specific number of days — check your governing documents for the timeframe.) For non-condominium HOAs, the procedure comes from the CC&Rs.
Condominiums are governed by the Rhode Island Condominium Act (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1). Rhode Island has no separate planned-community act, so non-condominium HOAs are governed by their recorded declaration plus the RI Nonprofit Corporation Act (§7-6). Additional protections come from the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act (§34-37) and general property law.
For condominiums, under R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.16 the association has a statutory lien for unpaid assessments, fines, and related charges, which can be foreclosed judicially. The lien has a six-month super-priority over a first mortgage for regular common-expense assessments (not for fines); otherwise it is subordinate to first mortgages and real estate tax liens. You have the right to contest the underlying fine in the foreclosure proceeding.
Explore detailed guides for specific violation types, including your rights, sample response letters, and appeal strategies.
Every state has different HOA rules. Compare Rhode Island's with these high-traffic state guides, or see all 50 in the Max HOA Fine in Every State master table.
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