What protection do Rhode Island residents get if the park closes?

A year's notice and relocation pay. Under R.I. Gen. Laws §31-44-3.2, if a park is to be sold or leased for a use that discontinues it, the owner must give 'at least one year written notice by certified mail' to each resident and pay 'relocation benefits of up to four thousand dollars ($4,000) or the actual relocation expenses incurred, whichever is less.' During the wind-down, rent increases are capped (CPI plus tax increases, not over 10%).

Mobile home storm rules in Rhode Island

Q: What construction and anchoring standards govern a Rhode Island manufactured home?

The federal HUD code, with recorded wind-zone data. Under R.I. Gen. Laws §31-44-15, new manufactured homes must be 'HUD approved and compliant,' and dealers and purchasers must 'record with the local building official data plate wind zone information as part of the installation application,' which the building official considers in inspection. This is general information, not advice about a specific situation — consider consulting a licensed attorney in Rhode Island.

Q: Does a Rhode Island park have to maintain homes against the weather?

For homes the park rents out, yes. Under R.I. Gen. Laws §31-44-7(1)(v), the park must 'maintain all ... homes rented by the owner in a condition which is structurally sound and capable of withstanding adverse effects of weather conditions,' and must keep the grounds, roads, and drainage in good condition (§31-44-7(1)(iii),(xii)).

Rhode Island addresses storm and disaster safety through HUD construction and wind-zone standards, the park's maintenance duties, and strong protections if a park is discontinued. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone dealing with a specific situation should consider consulting a licensed attorney in Rhode Island.

What the statute says

Construction is governed by R.I. Gen. Laws §31-44-15: new homes must be "(HUD) approved and compliant manufactured structures," and dealers and purchasers must "record with the local building official data plate wind zone information as part of the installation application," which "local building officials shall consider ... as part of their inspection and enforcement process."

Maintenance is in §31-44-7(1): the park must "maintain all ... homes rented by the owner in a condition which is structurally sound and capable of withstanding adverse effects of weather conditions" (subsection (v)), keep exterior areas and roads in good condition (subsections (iii),(xii)), and keep water and sewage lines working (subsection (vii)).

If a disaster, sale, or other cause leads to discontinuance, §31-44-3.2 requires "at least one year written notice by certified mail ... to each mobile home resident," "relocation benefits of up to four thousand dollars ($4,000) or the actual relocation expenses incurred, whichever is less," paid within ten days of departure, and caps any rent increase during the wind-down at CPI plus documented tax increases, "not [to] exceed ten percent (10%)."

How it works in general

For storm resilience, Rhode Island relies on HUD construction and wind-zone standards: every new home must be HUD-compliant, and its wind-zone data plate is recorded with the local building official, who factors it into inspection — important for siting a home to withstand coastal storms. The park has to keep any homes it rents out structurally sound against the weather and keep the grounds, roads, and drainage in good condition. Rhode Island doesn't require a park to provide a storm shelter, so disaster preparation runs through municipal and state emergency management and the federal disaster programs. If a storm or other event leads the owner to discontinue the park, residents get a full year's notice and up to $4,000 in relocation benefits, with rent increases capped during the wind-down.

Common scenarios

General examples Rhode Island park residents commonly encounter:

A new home is installed. It must be HUD-compliant, with wind-zone data recorded with the local building official (§31-44-15).
A park-rented home suffers weather damage. The park must keep its rented homes structurally sound against the weather (§31-44-7(1)(v)).
A disaster or sale forces the park to close. Residents get one year's notice and up to $4,000 in relocation benefits (§31-44-3.2).

Other authorities that may apply

The Mobile and Manufactured Homes Act (§§31-44-7, 31-44-15, 31-44-3.2) governs maintenance, construction, and discontinuance; the federal HUD code governs home construction and anchoring. The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and FEMA administer disaster assistance, and a homeowner's insurance policy — not statute — usually governs storm-damage claims.