§ 34-37-4.2. Exemptions — Religious organizations and private clubs.
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a religious organization, association, or society or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association, or society from limiting the sale, rental, or occupancy of a dwelling which it owns or operates for other than commercial purposes to persons of the same religion or from giving preference to those persons unless membership in the religion is restricted on account of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, or national origin or disability. Nor shall anything in this chapter prohibit a private club not in fact open to the public which as an incident to its primary purpose or purposes provides lodgings which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose from limiting the rental or occupancy of the lodgings to its members or from giving preference to its members.
(b) Nothing in this chapter limits the applicability of any reasonable local, state, or federal restrictions regarding the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy a dwelling.
History of Section.P.L. 1979, ch. 144, § 3; P.L. 1988, ch. 455, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 398, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 32, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 8; P.L. 2001, ch. 340, § 2.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 34-37 - Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act
Section 34-37-1. - Finding and declaration of policy.
Section 34-37-2. - Right to equal housing opportunities — Civil rights.
Section 34-37-2.1. - Right to equal housing opportunities — Age.
Section 34-37-2.2. - Right to equal housing opportunities — Sexual orientation.
Section 34-37-2.3. - Right to equal housing opportunities — Gender identity or expression.
Section 34-37-2.4. - Right to equal housing opportunities — Victims of domestic violence status.
Section 34-37-3. - Definitions.
Section 34-37-4. - Unlawful housing practices.
Section 34-37-4.1. - Discrimination in familial status — Exemptions.
Section 34-37-4.2. - Exemptions — Religious organizations and private clubs.
Section 34-37-4.3. - Discrimination in granting credit or loans prohibited.
Section 34-37-4.4. - [Repealed.]
Section 34-37-4.5. - [Repealed.]
Section 34-37-4.6. - Discrimination based on lawful source of income — Exemption.
Section 34-37-5. - Prevention of unlawful housing practices.
Section 34-37-5.1. - Interference, coercion, or intimidation.
Section 34-37-5.2. - Discrimination in brokerage services.
Section 34-37-5.3. - Fostering of segregated housing prohibited.
Section 34-37-5.4. - Discrimination in residential real estate related transactions.
Section 34-37-6. - Judicial review and enforcement.
Section 34-37-8. - Appropriation.
Section 34-37-9. - Construction.