AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE (Requires that any new residential construction shall have a minimum of two means of egress consisting of standard exterior doors.)

H8018

2026 -- H 8018
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LC005558
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Introduced By:
Representatives McEntee, Caldwell, Dawson, Spears, O'Brien, and Casey

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 23-27.3-120.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled "State
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Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-27.3-120.1. New buildings.
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(a)
No building or structure hereafter erected shall be used or occupied in whole or in part
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until a certificate of use and occupancy shall have been issued by the building official. The
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certificate shall not be issued until all work has been completed in accordance with the provisions
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of this code, the Fire Safety Code (chapters 28.1 — 28.39 of this title), of all approved permits, and
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of all applicable codes for which a permit is required, except as provided in § 23-27.3-120.4. In
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addition, the certificate shall not be issued for any property serviced by a private well until the
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property owner has submitted documentation to the building official which demonstrates
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compliance with the drinking water testing requirements and the drinking water standard for
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coliform bacteria, fluoride, lead, nitrate and nitrite for private wells established by the director of
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health. A city or town may require additional testing and compliance with quality standards
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established pursuant to § 23-1-5.3(6).
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, approval of new residential
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construction shall require at a minimum, two (2) means of egress consisting of standard exterior
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doors.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005558
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE
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This act would require that any new residential construction shall have a minimum of two
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means of egress consisting of standard exterior doors.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005558
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LC005558 - Page 3 of 3