Rhode Island Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules
In Rhode Island, tenants give at least 30 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords give at least 30 days. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 5 days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.
Rhode Island notice periods at a glance
| Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy | 30 days R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37(b) |
|---|---|
| Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy | 30 days R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37(b) |
| Longer tenancies and special cases | A year-to-year tenancy needs 3 months' written notice before the end of the occupation year (§ 34-18-37(c)). |
| Notice for unpaid rent | 5 days R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35(a)-(b) |
| End of a fixed-term lease | The statute does not require notice to end a fixed-term lease at its expiration, but a landlord who wants possession must follow the § 34-18-38 holdover process. |
| How notice can be delivered | Written notice in a form substantially like the statutory form in § 34-18-56(c) for terminations and § 34-18-56(a) for rent demands. The rent demand is mailed, and the 5 days run from the date of mailing (§ 34-18-35). |
The rent demand can be sent only once rent is 15 days in arrears, and the tenant then has 5 days from mailing to pay. Suit can be filed on the 6th day after mailing. Week-to-week tenancies need 10 days' notice (§ 34-18-37(a)).
What a Rhode Island notice to vacate should include
- The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
- The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
- A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
- For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
- Your name, signature and contact details
- A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)
Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.
Rhode Island notice to vacate FAQ
How much notice does a tenant have to give in Rhode Island?
For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days in writing (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37(b)). If you have a fixed-term lease, check the lease: it may require notice before the end date or renew automatically.
How much notice does a landlord have to give in Rhode Island?
To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 30 days (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37(b)). A year-to-year tenancy needs 3 months' written notice before the end of the occupation year (§ 34-18-37(c)).
What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Rhode Island?
The tenant gets 5 days to pay or move out (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35(a)-(b)). If the tenant does neither, the landlord can file an eviction case; only a court can order the tenant out.
How do you deliver a notice to vacate in Rhode Island?
Written notice in a form substantially like the statutory form in § 34-18-56(c) for terminations and § 34-18-56(a) for rent demands. The rent demand is mailed, and the 5 days run from the date of mailing (§ 34-18-35).
Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Rhode Island?
The statute does not require notice to end a fixed-term lease at its expiration, but a landlord who wants possession must follow the § 34-18-38 holdover process.
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Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Guides
- 30-Day Notice to Vacate: Sample Letter and Rules
- 30-Day Notice to Landlord: Intent to Vacate Letter
- Lease Termination Letter: End-of-Term and Early Termination
- Notice to Vacate Template and Sample Letter
- Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
- 60-Day Notice to Vacate
- Lease Non-Renewal Letter