State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Rhode-island > Title-23 > Chapter-23-19-2 > 23-19-2-8SECTION 23-19.2-8
§ 23-19.2-8 Notice to vacate unfitdwellings – Penalties for disobedience. – The city and town councils of the several cities and towns when satisfied uponexamination that any cellar, rooms, tenement, or building in its city or town,occupied as a dwelling place, has become, by reason of the number of occupantsor want of cleanliness or other cause, unfit for occupation as a dwelling placeor a cause of nuisance to the occupants or the public, may issue a notice inwriting to the occupants or any of them, requiring the premises to be put inproper condition as to cleanliness, or, may require the occupants to remove orquit the premises, within any time as the council may deem reasonable. If thesenotified persons, or any of them, neglect or refuse to comply with the terms ofthe notice, the council may cause the premises to be properly cleansed at theexpense of the owners, or may remove the occupants forcibly and close up thepremises; and the premises shall not be occupied as a dwelling place withoutthe consent and permission of the council. If the owner after this occupies, orknowingly permits the premises to be occupied, without permission and consent,the owner shall be fined not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for each day ofoccupation, or permission to occupy the premises, to be recovered to and forthe use of the city or town.
