Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-19.2-8. Notice to vacate unfit dwellings--Penalties for disobedience

The city and town councils of the several cities and towns when satisfied upon examination that any cellar, rooms, tenement, or building in its city or town, occupied as a dwelling place, has become, by reason of the number of occupants or want of cleanliness or other cause, unfit for occupation as a dwelling place or a cause of nuisance to the occupants or the public, may issue a notice in writing to the occupants or any of them, requiring the premises to be put in proper condition as to cleanliness, or, may require the occupants to remove or quit the premises, within any time as the council may deem reasonable. If these notified persons, or any of them, neglect or refuse to comply with the terms of the notice, the council may cause the premises to be properly cleansed at the expense of the owners, or may remove the occupants forcibly and close up the premises; and the premises shall not be occupied as a dwelling place without the consent and permission of the council. If the owner after this occupies, or knowingly permits the premises to be occupied, without permission and consent, the owner shall be fined not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for each day of occupation, or permission to occupy the premises, to be recovered to and for the use of the city or town.