The town of Narragansett’s policy to limit the number of unrelated renters in a single household has been struck down once again. The policy, which aimed to curb noise and other disturbances caused by large groups of renters, was deemed unconstitutional by the Rhode Island Superior Court.
The policy, known as the “three-unrelated” rule, limited the number of unrelated individuals who could rent a single-family home to no more than three. This rule was first enacted in 2008 and has faced legal challenges ever since.
In the recent court ruling, Judge Brian Stern cited a previous decision from 2010 that declared the policy unconstitutional. The judge agreed with the plaintiffs, who argued that the policy violated their rights to equal protection under the law.
The town of Narragansett has argued that the policy was necessary to address quality of life issues in residential neighborhoods. However, opponents of the rule believe that it unfairly targets renters and violates their rights.
This decision marks another setback for Narragansett’s efforts to enforce the “three-unrelated” rule. The town will now have to explore alternative ways to address noise and other disturbances caused by renters without infringing on individuals’ rights.
Overall, this ruling highlights the ongoing debate between property owners, renters, and local governments over issues of zoning and rental regulations. It will be interesting to see how Narragansett responds to this latest legal setback and what implications it may have for other communities facing similar challenges.
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