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Rhode Island, United States

Rhode Island Eviction Notice

Create a proper Rhode Island eviction notice — pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or termination — and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.

Reflects current Rhode Island rules · 2026Official source linkedFree PDF · no signup · nothing uploaded

Maintained by the SealForms editorial team · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.

What happens after the notice in Rhode Island

If the tenant does not comply, the eviction moves to court. These are Rhode Island’s own rules for that step, from the judiciary and the statute.

Each point links to the Rhode Island source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.

Rhode Island notice periods · as of 2026

Non-payment of rent
5 days
Lease violation (cure)
20 days
End month-to-month
30 days

Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35; § 34-18-36; § 34-18-37 · verify ↗. Using the wrong number can void the notice — confirm the current rule before you serve it.

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Notice to Pay or Quit / Vacate

State of Rhode Island

Date: __________. To: __________ ("Tenant"), and all occupants of __________ (the "Premises").

You are hereby notified that you are in violation of your tenancy for the following reason: __________ . Amount due, if applicable: $______.

You are required, within ____ days as required by Rhode Island law, on or before__________, to cure the violation (or pay the amount due) OR to vacate and surrender the Premises. If you fail to do so, the landlord may begin eviction proceedings in court.

This notice is given under the landlord-tenant laws of the State of Rhode Island. Nothing here waives the landlord’s rights.

Landlord signature / date

Generated with SealFormsReflects Rhode Island law · verified 2026

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    Types of eviction notice

    • Pay or quit — for unpaid rent: pay by the deadline or move out.
    • Cure or quit — for a lease violation: fix it by the deadline or move out.
    • Unconditional / termination — to end a month-to-month tenancy or for serious violations.

    Rhode Island notice period & service

    The number of days and how you must deliver the notice are set by Rhode Island law — get both right, keep proof of service, and never lock out or remove a tenant yourself. Check the current Rhode Island eviction rules before serving.

    Frequently asked questions

    How many days notice do I have to give in Rhode Island?

    In Rhode Island, a non-payment (pay-or-quit) notice must give the tenant 5 days to pay or leave (as of 2026). Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35; § 34-18-36; § 34-18-37. Notice periods for lease violations or ending a tenancy differ — see the box on this page and confirm current law before serving.

    Is an eviction notice the same as eviction?

    No. The notice is the required first step — it gives the tenant a chance to pay, fix the problem, or move out by a deadline. If they don’t, you then file an eviction (unlawful detainer) case in court. You cannot lock out or remove a tenant yourself; only a court and law enforcement can carry out an eviction.

    How do I serve the notice in Rhode Island?

    States set rules for delivery — often personal delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, and/or mailing a copy. Keep proof of how and when you served it. Improper service is a common reason eviction cases get dismissed, so follow Rhode Island’s method carefully.

    Do I need a lawyer?

    Not always for the notice itself, but eviction is technical and a small mistake can restart the clock. For contested cases, commercial properties, or if the tenant has an attorney, it’s worth consulting a landlord-tenant lawyer in Rhode Island.

    Where does a landlord file an eviction case in Rhode Island?

    If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord files in the District Court (the case is called a(n) eviction action (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18) action). Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35 (current as of Jan 1, 2026); RI Judiciary District Court Landlord/Tenant page.

    How must an eviction notice be served in Rhode Island?

    Nonpayment: written 5-day demand notice sent by regular first-class U.S. mail (tenant 15+ days in arrears); complaint may be filed no earlier than the 6th day after mailing. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-18-35 and 34-18-56(a) (current as of Jan 1, 2026).

    What does it cost to file an eviction in Rhode Island?

    $80.00 District Court civil filing fee statewide, plus one-time e-filing fees ($17.50 Tyler processing + $3.25 technology surcharge) Source: RI Judiciary District Court Civil Fees and Costs.

    How does Rhode Island compare? See the notice periods in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute. Not sure which notice applies? Try the 2-question wizard.

    How Rhode Island compares

    Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35; § 34-18-36; § 34-18-37 ↗.

    Notice to pay rent or quit

    Notice to pay rent or quit: 5 days, exactly the national median.

    This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 7 other states.

    Notice to pay rent or quit in neighboring states — Connecticut (3 days), Massachusetts (14 days).

    Notice to cure a lease violation

    Notice to cure a lease violation: 20 days — above the national median of 14 days across the 38 states with a statutory rule.

    Ranked #10 of 38 states — higher means more time to fix the violation.

    No other state uses exactly this figure.

    Notice to cure a lease violation in neighboring states — Connecticut (15 days), Massachusetts (no statutory rule). Rhode Island's 20 days is the longest among its neighbors.

    Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy

    Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days, exactly the national median.

    This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 36 other states.

    Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — Connecticut (3 days), Massachusetts (30 days).

    Eviction notice in other states

    More Rhode Island legal forms

    Different state? See eviction notices by state →