Who enforces each one, what edition applies, and what changes next. 8 of 8 state-level topic areas checked against primary sources. Federal OSHA state.
| Area | In force | Authority | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | RI Fire Code (450-RICR-00-00-7): NFPA 1-2021 w/ RI amendments; RI Life Safety Code (450-RICR-00-00-8): NFPA 101-2021; RI Fire Alarm Code (450-RICR-00-00-10): NFPA 72-2022Fire Code (prevention and hazards) and Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72, 2022 ed., replacing 2019) took effect March 1, 2026 with RI amendments. The Life Safety Code governs egress and protection, including existing hotels. Part 1 (450-RICR-00-00-1) is administrative and appeal procedure only. SourceChecked on the source | State Fire Marshal - sole statewide enforcement authority; Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal & Review administers appeals/variances (RIGL Ch. 23-28.1 to 23-28.3) | In forceIn force since Mar 1, 2026; no newer edition pending found |
| Building | 2021 ICC family w/ RI amendments (SBC-1 IBC-2021, SBC-2 IRC-2021, SBC-3 IPC-2021, SBC-4 IMC-2021, SBC-6 IPMC-2021, SBC-7 IEBC-2021, SBC-14 ISPSC-2021, SBC-19 IFGC-2021) plus NEC-2023, IECC-2024Adopts the 2021 ICC family plus NEC-2023 and IECC-2024, with Rhode Island amendments; effective December 1, 2025, under RIGL Ch. 23-27.3 (RICR Title 510). SourceChecked on the source | RI Building Code Commission adopts/sets the code statewide; local municipal building/code-enforcement officials issue permits and enforce day-to-day | In forceIn force since Dec 1, 2025; no newer edition pending found |
| Elevators | 260-RICR-30-10-1: ASME A17.1-2016 (new installations), ASME A17.3-2015 (existing installations)Covers construction, inspection and maintenance of elevators/escalators. Standard units inspected at least annually; units under full maintenance contracts every 2 years; safety/governor devices tested every 12 months. SourceChecked on the source | DLT Code Commission for Occupational Safety & Health adopts the code (RIGL Ch. 23-33, 28-20); DLT authorized inspectors license/inspect and enforce | In forceIn force since Jan 4, 2022 (periodic refile, no text changes); no pending ASME edition update found |
| Boilers | 260-RICR-30-10-2: ASME BPVC 2025 ed., National Board Inspection Code 2025 ed., ASME CSD-1:2024Power/high-pressure boilers get annual inspections; low-pressure boilers and water heaters biennial; unfired pressure vessels triennial. Certificate valid until expiration or a defect is found. SourceChecked on the source | DLT Code Commission for Occupational Safety & Health adopts the code (RIGL Ch. 28-25); DLT Boiler Section inspectors certify and enforce | In forceIn force since Dec 24, 2025 (adopted 2025 BPVC ed.); no newer edition pending found |
| Pools | 216-RICR-50-05-4 (Licensing Aquatic Venues); construction also follows SBC-14 (ISPSC-2021) under the Building Code Commission216-RICR-50-05-4 requires a RIDOH license for any aquatic venue (pool, spa, wading or therapeutic pool) not exempt under RIGL 23-22, renewable yearly. Current amendment effective Aug 7, 2022 lets a private engineer approve designs and attest to construction conformance at the licensee's expense. Hotel pool coverage follows the statute's scope. SourceChecked on the source | RI Department of Health (RIDOH) licenses and regulates operation; RI Building Code Commission sets construction standards | In forceIn force; no pending amendment found |
| Lodging | Hotels fall under the RI Life Safety Code (450-RICR-00-00-8, adopting NFPA 101, 2021 ed.); RIGL ch. 5-14 (Hotels) covers guest property, ejection and refusal of admissionChapter 5-14 sections address safekeeping of guests' property, hotelkeeper liability, the innkeeper's right to eject and refusal of admission. The former hotels and motels chapter (RIGL 23-28.7) is repealed. The current Life Safety Code applies to new buildings permitted on or after March 1, 2026. SourceChecked on the source | State Fire Marshal (Life Safety Code enforcement); Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review (variances) | In force |
| Workplace | Federal OSHA jurisdiction; Rhode Island is not an OSHA-approved State Plan stateFederal OSHA directly covers most private-sector employers. State and local government employees are not covered by federal OSHA and RI has no separate state plan. SourceChecked on the source | U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA (direct federal enforcement); no state plan exists for public or private employees | In force |
| Environmental | Federal EPA baseline plus Rhode Island state layer: UST registration (250-RICR-140-25-1), minor-source air permits (250-RICR-120-05-9), asbestos abatement notice (216-RICR-50-15-1, RI Dept. of Health), and wastewater facility emergency/sewer overflow reporting (250-RICR-150-10-4, amendment effective Oct 16, 2025)Sewer overflows (250-RICR-150-10-4, eff. Oct 16, 2025): DEM verbal notice within 24 hours, electronic report within 5 days; private low-pressure grinder pumps excluded from facility definition. USTs register with DEM yearly; generators 350,000 Btu/h or 50 HP and up need air review; asbestos: 10 working days' notice to RIDOH. SourceChecked on the source | RI DEM (tanks, air, wastewater); RI Department of Health (asbestos); U.S. EPA (federal baseline); local sewer utilities (grease, connections) | In forceHFC leak-repair rule in force since Jan 1, 2026; next Tier II filing March 1, 2027; automatic leak detection for existing 1,500 lb+ commercial refrigeration by Jan 1, 2027 |
RI Fire Code (450-RICR-00-00-7): NFPA 1-2021 w/ RI amendments; RI Life Safety Code (450-RICR-00-00-8): NFPA 101-2021; RI Fire Alarm Code (450-RICR-00-00-10): NFPA 72-2022. Fire Code (prevention and hazards) and Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72, 2022 ed., replacing 2019) took effect March 1, 2026 with RI amendments. The Life Safety Code governs egress and protection, including existing hotels. Part 1 (450-RICR-00-00-1) is administrative and appeal procedure only. Enforced by: State Fire Marshal - sole statewide enforcement authority; Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal & Review administers appeals/variances (RIGL Ch. 23-28.1 to 23-28.3).
2021 ICC family w/ RI amendments (SBC-1 IBC-2021, SBC-2 IRC-2021, SBC-3 IPC-2021, SBC-4 IMC-2021, SBC-6 IPMC-2021, SBC-7 IEBC-2021, SBC-14 ISPSC-2021, SBC-19 IFGC-2021) plus NEC-2023, IECC-2024. Adopts the 2021 ICC family plus NEC-2023 and IECC-2024, with Rhode Island amendments; effective December 1, 2025, under RIGL Ch. 23-27.3 (RICR Title 510). Enforced by: RI Building Code Commission adopts/sets the code statewide; local municipal building/code-enforcement officials issue permits and enforce day-to-day.
Elevators: DLT Code Commission for Occupational Safety & Health adopts the code (RIGL Ch. 23-33, 28-20); DLT authorized inspectors license/inspect and enforce (260-RICR-30-10-1: ASME A17.1-2016 (new installations), ASME A17.3-2015 (existing installations)). Boilers: DLT Code Commission for Occupational Safety & Health adopts the code (RIGL Ch. 28-25); DLT Boiler Section inspectors certify and enforce (260-RICR-30-10-2: ASME BPVC 2025 ed., National Board Inspection Code 2025 ed., ASME CSD-1:2024).
Rhode Island is a federal-OSHA state: the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA enforces workplace safety rules directly.
Jan 1, 2027: Automatic leak detection on existing 1,500 lb+ HFC commercial refrigeration; Mar 1, 2027: EPCRA Tier II chemical inventory filing.
Free reference. No account is needed. Membership — Coming soon.