Rhode Island is home to est. 1,200+ homeowners associations ranging from small 10-unit townhome communities to large master-planned developments. Self-managed HOAs in RI face the same core challenges as those everywhere - collecting dues, managing violations, coordinating maintenance - but operate under Rhode Island-specific laws that shape what boards can and can't do.
This guide covers what Rhode Island HOA boards should look for in management software and how Rhode Island's legal framework affects your operations.
The core operational needs are consistent regardless of state: online dues collection, a resident portal, violation tracking, maintenance request management, and email communications. These solve the day-to-day pain points for any self-managed board in RI.
In Rhode Island, a few things are worth paying attention to:
Rhode Island adopted the Uniform Condominium Act for condominiums but has no comprehensive planned community act for single-family HOA communities, leaving those associations to operate under CC&Rs and general nonprofit law. Rhode Island condominium associations benefit from a 6-month super-priority assessment lien over first mortgages, required reserve funds, and open board meeting requirements under the Condominium Act. Non-condominium planned community HOAs have none of these statutory protections and must rely entirely on their governing documents.
Key things Rhode Island HOA boards should know:
Note: This is a general overview, not legal advice. Rhode Island HOA law changes regularly and varies by community type and governing documents. Consult a Rhode Island-licensed HOA attorney for guidance specific to your community.
For a self-managed HOA in Rhode Island, expect to pay $49–$99/month for full-featured software on a flat-tier plan. That covers communities from 10 to 150 units, with every feature included at a fraction of what a property manager would cost in RI (typically $300–$700/month for communities of that size).
Starting at $49/month, AffordableHOA serves communities across Rhode Island from 10 units to 1,000 units, with every feature included at every tier.
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Start free →No. Rhode Island does not have a comprehensive planned community act for non-condominium HOAs. These associations are governed by their CC&Rs, bylaws, and the Rhode Island Nonprofit Corporation Act (R.I.G.L. § 7-6-1 et seq.). Member rights, board authority, and assessment collection procedures in Rhode Island planned community HOAs are primarily determined by the governing documents.
Rhode Island's Condominium Act, based on the national Uniform Condominium Act model, governs the creation, governance, and management of condominium associations. It requires associations to maintain financial records, hold annual meetings, and follow specific procedures for assessment lien enforcement. The act provides unit owners with rights to inspect records and attend open board meetings. Planned community HOAs are not covered by this act.
A Rhode Island HOA can record an assessment lien against a delinquent owner's property if authorized by the CC&Rs and general Rhode Island lien law, and can pursue judicial foreclosure to collect unpaid dues. Because there is no comprehensive planned community statute in Rhode Island, the specific notice and collection procedures for non-condominium HOAs are governed by the community's documents. Rhode Island condominium associations follow the lien procedures in the Condominium Act.
Yes. Under R.I.G.L. § 34-36.1-3-116, a Rhode Island condominium association's lien for unpaid common expenses has super-priority over a first mortgage for up to 6 months of assessments. This means the condominium association can collect up to 6 months of unpaid dues ahead of the first mortgage lender in a foreclosure. Non-condominium planned community HOAs do not have equivalent super-priority under Rhode Island law.
Rhode Island requires condominium associations subject to the Condominium Act to maintain adequate reserves for major repairs and replacements of common elements. Non-condominium planned community HOAs have no equivalent statutory reserve requirement; their obligations depend on the CC&Rs. Boards of all types should consider funding reserves voluntarily to avoid large unexpected special assessments.