Just cause eviction rules in Providence, RI — sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances — list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Providence Code Chapter 17, Section 17-216, adopted in 2017, requires landlords to state and document a just cause before terminating or refusing to renew certain residential tenancies within the city.
Providence's Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, codified at Chapter 17 Section 17-216 of the Code of Ordinances, was enacted in 2017 to limit arbitrary non-renewals of qualifying residential tenants. Permitted causes include nonpayment of rent, material lease violations, owner move-in, substantial rehabilitation, and sale of the unit, among others enumerated in the ordinance. Landlords must give written notice citing the specific cause, provide supporting documentation when required, and follow Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 34-18 procedures. The ordinance interacts with state landlord-tenant law and does not override Rhode Island's partial preemption.
Eviction filings without a recognized just cause can be dismissed, expose landlords to damages and attorney fees, and trigger code enforcement action under Chapter 17.
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