2018 -- H 8189

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LC005585

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- SHORT-TERM RENTALS ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Carson, Fogarty, Marshall, and
Filippi

     Date Introduced: May 11, 2018

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 34 of the General Laws entitled "PROPERTY" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 50

SHORT-TERM RENTALS ACT

     34-50-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Short-Term Rentals Act."

     34-50-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following

meanings:

     (1) "Short-term rental listing service" means a business which facilitates or arranges the

renting of short-term rental units, whether through the listing of short-term rental units on a

website or through other means, but not including any business whose primary function is

ownership, management or marketing of a duly-licensed realtor.

     (2) "Short-term rental provider" means a person who receives payment for owning or

operating a short-term rental unit.

     (3) "Short-term rental unit" means a residential dwelling of any type, including a single-

family residence, apartment, condominium or cooperative unit, in which a person can obtain

sleeping accommodations for less than thirty (30) days.

     34-50-3. Affordable housing.

     (a) A residential dwelling may not be used as a short-term rental unit if the owner or

resident of the dwelling has received affordable housing funds or any other housing assistance,

with respect to such dwelling, from the federal, state, or local government, unless the owner or

resident is residing in the dwelling while renting out other bedrooms in such dwelling.

     (b) No short-term rental provider shall rent a short-term rental unit to any person under

the age of eighteen (18) years.

     34-50-4. Local control.

     (a) All short-term rental units must comply with municipal laws and regulations.

     (b) Cooperative buildings, condominium buildings and other buildings governed by a

homeowner's association or other such bodies shall retain the right to regulate short-term rentals

in the bylaws of the homeowner's association.

     34-50-5. Safety and health.

     (a) A short-term rental provider shall maintain the facility in a sanitary condition.

     (b) A short-term rental provider may not rent a unit to a person succeeding a previous

occupant before thoroughly cleaning the unit and providing clean and sanitary sheets, towels, and

pillowcases.

     (c) The department of health and the fire marshal may inspect short-term rental units at

its discretion to ensure that the property meets applicable safety, emergency and health standards.

     (d) The short-term rental provider shall post a clearly visible list of emergency

information, including emergency numbers, emergency exit information, and the location of fire

extinguishers or pull fire alarms

     34-50-6. Insurance.

     A short-term rental provider shall have at least three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000)

in property and casualty insurance to cover damage done by, or suffered by, any person renting

the short-term rental unit from the short-term rental provider.

     34-50-7. Accessibility requirements.

     A short-term rental provider who offers to rent out two (2) or more bedrooms within one

building, whether in one short-term rental unit or multiple short-term rental units, must comply

with all accessibility requirements to which places of public accommodation are subject.

     34-50-8. Civil rights.

     Each short-term rental unit shall be deemed to be a public accommodation. It shall be

unlawful for any person who owns, leases, rents, operates, manages or in any manner controls

such public accommodation to withhold, deny, curtail, limit or discriminate concerning the full

use of such public accommodation by any individual because of the individual's race, color, sex,

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gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital

status, parental status, military discharge status or source of income.

     34-50-9. Posting of rates.

     A short-term rental provider shall post a card or sign in a conspicuous place in each unit

stating:

     (1) The daily room rate; and

     (2) The date on which the card or sign was posted.

     34-50-10. Penalties.

     Short-term rental listing services and short-term rental providers shall be fined five

hundred dollars ($500) for each applicable violation of this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- SHORT-TERM RENTALS ACT

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     This act would establish the Short-Term Rentals Act which would set forth requirements

for short-term listing services, and short-term rental providers, when renting to a person for less

than thirty (30) days. Failure to follow the statutory requirements of the act would result in a five

hundred dollar ($500) fine for each applicable violation.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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