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 give tenants a written notice — before they move in — explaining their legal rights to access the shoreline if the rental property is located near the coast. The disclosure would need to be detailed, meaning it can't just be a vague mention of beach access, but rather a clear explanation of what rights the tenant actually has under Rhode Island law.

The bill primarily affects two groups: landlords who own and rent out coastal or shoreline properties, and the tenants who rent those properties. Landlords would have a new legal responsibility to prepare and provide this written disclosure as part of the rental process, before the lease begins. Tenants, in turn, would receive clearer information upfront about whether and how they can access nearby beaches or shoreline areas — which could be an important factor in their decision to rent a particular property.

Rhode Island has a long-standing legal tradition of public access to the shoreline, but the exact rights can vary by location and circumstances, which can sometimes be confusing. This bill aims to make sure renters aren't left in the dark about those rights before they sign a lease. The bill has been introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, meaning it is still in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been passed into law.