§ 34-37-5.5. Freedom of condominium owners and apartment renters to display certain religious items.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a landlord or owner, as defined in § 34-18-11; a management committee, as defined in § 34-36-3; or an association of unit owners, as defined in § 34-36.1-1.03 (hereinafter “property owners”); may not enforce or adopt a restrictive covenant or otherwise prohibit a unit owner or tenant from displaying or affixing on the entry to the unit owner’s or tenant’s dwelling one or more religious items, the display of which is motivated by the unit owner’s or tenant’s sincere religious belief.
(b) This section does not prohibit the enforcement or adoption of a covenant that, to the extent allowed by the constitutions of this state and the United States, prohibits the display or affixing of a religious item on the entry to the unit owner’s or tenant’s dwelling that:
(1) Threatens the public health or safety;
(2) Violates the provisions of chapter 37 of title 34 or any other state or federal law barring discrimination in housing, or any other law;
(3) Is in a location other than the entry door or door frame or extends past the outer edge of the door frame of the unit owner’s or resident’s dwelling; or
(4) Individually, or in combination with each other religious item displayed or affixed on the entry door or door frame, has a total size of greater than twenty-five (25) square inches.
(c) Except as otherwise provided, this section does not authorize a unit owner or tenant to use a material or color for an entry door or door frame of the owner’s or resident’s dwelling or make an alteration to the entry door or door frame that is not authorized by the restrictive covenant governing the dwelling.
(d) A property owner’s association may remove an item displayed in violation of a restrictive covenant permitted by this section.
History of Section.P.L. 2015, ch. 174, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 184, § 1.
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.