Requires landlords who rent shoreline property to provide their tenants, before the start of the tenancy, with a detailed, written disclosure regarding their shoreline access rights.

Rhode Island Shoreline Access Disclosure Bill

This bill would require landlords in Rhode Island to inform tenants in writing about their shoreline access rights before they move into a rental property located near the coast. Specifically, if a landlord rents out a property along the shoreline, they would need to provide a detailed written disclosure explaining what rights the tenant has — or doesn't have — to access the nearby beach or waterfront. This disclosure would need to be given to the tenant before the tenancy officially begins.

The bill affects two main groups: landlords who own and rent out shoreline properties, and tenants who rent those properties. For landlords, it creates a new legal requirement to prepare and share this written notice as part of the rental process. For tenants, it is meant to ensure they clearly understand their shoreline access rights upfront — for example, whether they can walk to the water's edge, use the beach, or whether any portions of the shoreline are restricted — so there are no surprises after they move in.

Currently, the bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The committee has recommended it be held for further study, meaning it has not yet moved forward in the legislative process. A hearing has been scheduled for March 18, 2026. Because shoreline access rights in Rhode Island can be complex and vary by property, this bill aims to make those rights more transparent for everyday renters.