# R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-4.2: Exemptions €” Religious organizations and private clubs

> Rhode Island · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-4.2

## Section

- **Citation:** R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-4.2
- **Heading:** Exemptions €” Religious organizations and private clubs
- **Jurisdiction:** Rhode Island
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** RI Code / Title 34 / Chapter 34-37 / Section 34-37-4.2

## Text

(a) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a religious organization, association, or society or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association, or society from limiting the sale, rental, or occupancy of a dwelling which it owns or operates for other than commercial purposes to persons of the same religion or from giving preference to those persons unless membership in the religion is restricted on account of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, or national origin or disability. Nor shall anything in this chapter prohibit a private club not in fact open to the public which as an incident to its primary purpose or purposes provides lodgings which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose from limiting the rental or occupancy of the lodgings to its members or from giving preference to its members.

(b) Nothing in this chapter limits the applicability of any reasonable local, state, or federal restrictions regarding the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy a dwelling.

## Nearby sections

- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-1 § 34-37-1. Finding and declaration of policy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-2 § 34-37-2. Right to equal housing opportunities €” Civil rights.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-2.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-2.1 § 34-37-2.1. Right to equal housing opportunities €” Age.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-2.1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-2.2 § 34-37-2.2. Right to equal housing opportunities €” Sexual orientation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-2.2.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-2.3 § 34-37-2.3. Right to equal housing opportunities €” Gender identity or expression.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-2.3.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-2.4 § 34-37-2.4. Right to equal housing opportunities €” Victims of domestic violence status.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-2.4.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-3 § 34-37-3. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-3.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-4 § 34-37-4. Unlawful housing practices.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-4.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-4.1 § 34-37-4.1. Discrimination in familial status €” Exemptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-4.1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-4.2 § 34-37-4.2. Exemptions €” Religious organizations and private clubs.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-4.2.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-4.3 § 34-37-4.3. Discrimination in granting credit or loans prohibited.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-4.3.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-4.6 § 34-37-4.6. Discrimination based on lawful source of income €” Exemption.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-4.6.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-5 § 34-37-5. Prevention of unlawful housing practices.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-5.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-5.1 § 34-37-5.1. Interference, coercion, or intimidation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-5.1.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T34_C34-37_S34-37-4.2. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.