Providence Code Chapter 15 and the Rhode Island Department of Health require property owners to control rats, roaches, and bed bugs, with shared landlord-tenant duties under the RI Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
Providence Code Chapter 15 (Health) and Chapter 17 (Housing) require property owners to keep buildings free of rats, mice, cockroaches, and bed bugs. Providence Healthy Communities Office and RI Department of Health share enforcement, particularly for chronic rodent complaints. Under the RI Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (RI Title 34, Chapter 18), landlords must maintain pest-free conditions, while tenants must avoid creating attractants. Bed-bug treatment is typically a landlord responsibility unless tenants caused the infestation; multifamily buildings often need whole-building treatment.
Property owners ignoring rodent or bed-bug complaints face Chapter 15 health citations, RI DOH orders, and tenant remedies including rent escrow under the Landlord-Tenant Act.
See how Providence's pest control rules stack up against other locations.
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