The notices and their periods
- 5-Day Demand for Rent — for nonpayment, the landlord must wait until rent is more than 15 days overdue, then serve a 5-day demand (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35). Paying the full balance (plus court costs at the hearing) stops the eviction, as long as no similar notice was served in the prior 6 months.
- 20-Day Notice to Cure — for a curable lease violation (§ 34-18-36) — 20 days to fix the problem.
- 10-Day Notice to Quit (repeat) — for a repeat of substantially the same violation within six months — no opportunity to cure.
Ending a tenancy and serving notice
To end a month-to-month tenancy without cause, give a 30-day Notice to Terminate Tenancy (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37).
After the notice period, the landlord files a Complaint for Eviction in district court (or the housing court). Illegal or criminal activity can support immediate filing.
The 15-day arrears trigger
Rhode Island is unusual on timing: a landlord can't even send a nonpayment demand until rent is more than 15 days late, and then the tenant gets 5 more days — plus a strong statutory right to pay the balance and stay (once per 6 months). Skipping the 15-day wait is a common reason RI nonpayment cases get dismissed.
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How much notice for nonpayment in Rhode Island?
Rent must be more than 15 days late, then a 5-day demand for rent (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35). Paying the balance plus costs generally stops the eviction.
How long to fix a lease violation in Rhode Island?
20 days to cure (§ 34-18-36); a repeat of the same violation within six months gets a 10-day notice with no cure.
How do I end a month-to-month tenancy in Rhode Island?
Give 30 days' written notice (§ 34-18-37).
More notice types: Pay or Quit · Cure or Quit · Unconditional Quit · eviction notices overview. By state: California · Texas · Florida · New York · Illinois · Pennsylvania · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina · Michigan · New Jersey · Virginia · Washington · Arizona · Massachusetts · Tennessee · Indiana · Missouri · Maryland · Wisconsin · Minnesota · South Carolina · Alabama · Louisiana · Kentucky · Oregon · Oklahoma · Connecticut · Utah · Nevada · Iowa · Arkansas · Mississippi · Kansas · New Mexico · Nebraska · Idaho · West Virginia · Colorado · Hawaii · New Hampshire · Maine · Montana · Delaware · South Dakota · North Dakota · Alaska · Vermont · Wyoming · Washington, D.C..
WriteMyNotice.com is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and this page is general information, not legal advice. Eviction rules are strict and vary by state, county, and city — many cities add rent-control or just-cause requirements on top of state law, and an improper or mistimed notice can get an eviction case delayed or dismissed. Verify the current requirements for your property's location and, for contested or high-stakes evictions, consult a landlord-tenant attorney. Statute references verified June 2026.