Cranston, RI Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Penalty
- up to $200 or 30 days, per day
- Required heat
- 68°F day / 60°F night, Oct 1–May 1
- Enforcer
- division of minimum housing standards
- Rental doors
- workable lock required on exterior doors
Summary
Cranston's minimum housing code sets structural, plumbing, and sanitation standards for every dwelling; owners must keep foundations, walls, roofs, and fixtures free of holes, leaks, and hazards, enforced by the division of minimum housing standards.
Every foundation shall adequately support the dwelling structure at all points and shall be free of holes, wide cracks and buckling. Every floor, exterior wall and roof shall be free of holes, wide cracks and loose, warped, protruding or rotting boards or any other condition which might admit moisture or rodents, or which might constitute a hazard to health or safety. All exposed surfaces which have been adversely affected by exposure or other causes shall be repaired and coated, treated or sealed so as to protect them from serious deterioration. Every interior wall and ceiling shall be free of holes and large cracks, loose plaster, defective materials or serious damage. Interior walls and all protective materials thereon shall be properly maintained.
C. Windows and Doors. Every window, exterior door and bulkhead shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight and rodent-proof. All exterior doors located on property from which rental income is received shall be required to have a workable lock to be kept in sound working condition.
D. Stairways and Porches. Every inside and outside stairway, every porch and every appurtenance thereto shall be constructed and maintained in safe condition and good repair.
E. Plumbing Facilities. Every plumbing fixture, water pipe and waste pipe shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working condition, free from defects, leaks and obstructions.
F.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4824304; v14 updated 2026-05-18).
Full Breakdown
Cranston Code § 15.12.750 requires every dwelling to have a sound foundation, walls, and roof free of holes, cracks, or rot, watertight windows and doors, and properly maintained plumbing; exterior doors on rental property must have a workable lock. Landlords supplying heat must maintain at least 68°F from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 60°F overnight between October 1 and May 1 (§ 15.12.760(I)). The division of minimum housing standards, under the inspector of buildings, enforces the chapter; violations carry a fine up to $200 or 30 days, with each day a separate offense (§ 15.12.290).
Violations & Fines
Fine up to $200 or 30 days imprisonment per violation, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense; the city solicitor may also seek injunctive or abatement action (§§ 15.12.290, 15.12.300).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who enforces Cranston's housing habitability code?
What heat must a Cranston landlord provide?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cranston
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Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle repairs & habitability.