How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island, since 1 January 2024 a landlord, broker or property manager may not charge a rental application fee — only the actual cost of a credit check or criminal background check, and not even that where the applicant provides both dated within the past 90 days. An applicant who is charged for a check is entitled to a copy of it. This is R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-59.
| What | Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Application fee | Not permitted (actual cost of checks only) |
Notes
An applicant who is charged for a check is entitled to a copy of it.
Source
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-59
Read the statute in the Rhode Island General Laws (Rhode Island General Assembly): webserver.rilegislature.gov.
Checked against the statute on September 11, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
This page states what the state allows a landlord to charge somebody applying to rent, so a fee can be checked against it before it is advertised or collected.
Guides on this rule
- FCRA Adverse Action Notices: What Landlords Must Tell Applicants — When a screening report leads you to deny an applicant or ask for more, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires a notice. What it must say, with the statute.
- Reusable Tenant Screening Reports: When Landlords Must Accept Them — Colorado requires landlords to accept a portable screening report; California, Maryland and Washington set disclosure and fee rules; New York waives the fee.
- Tenant Screening: What Landlords Need to Know — How to screen rental applicants fairly and legally: credit and background checks, consistent criteria, the FCRA’s adverse action notice and fair housing.
Compare this rule in every state
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