Rhode Island home inspection report template

Set up for Rhode Island

• The report records the client's name, the address of the property, and the on-site inspection start and finish times440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.3 (A) (6), (7)
• The report records the weather conditions at the time of the inspection440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.3 (A) (8)
• The report indicates which systems and components were not inspected and records any obstruction or condition that prevented their inspection440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.3 (A) (4), (9)
• The licensee's license number appears on every inspection report, contract, proposal, invoice and advertisement, displayed conspicuouslyR.I. Gen. Laws s. 5-65.1-6 (b) · 440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.3 (D) (1)
• Every written report includes a notice that complaints or claims about the inspection, or the home inspector or associate home inspector who performed it, may be directed to the Board, with the Board's current address and telephone numberR.I. Gen. Laws s. 5-65.1-6 (c) (1) · 440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.3 (D) (2), (3)

Also required in Rhode Island

These rules are about how and when you report, not the template's fields. Check them before you deliver.

• The report states whether each system or component observed needs repair or requires further evaluation or investigation; additional investigation is called for only when the scope of a repair is unknown, concealed damage is suspected, or the matter is beyond the inspector's expertise440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.3 (B), (D)
• Where an associate home inspector performed the inspection, the report discloses itR.I. Gen. Laws s. 5-65.1-6 (c) (2); 440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.3 (D) (4)
• Any financial or family relationship with the seller, the seller's representative or the representative's office is disclosed in writing, including a statement in the report in bold print in an obvious location440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.9 (B) (4)
• The inspector identifies the roof covering, drainage and chimney materials; wall cladding and deck materials; the foundation material, basement floors, attic lighting and collar and rafter ties; the electrical service type, interior wiring, main disconnect ampacity, panel locations and any aluminum branch wiring; the piping materials, water heater type and nameplate capacity and main shut-off location; the heating energy source, equipment and distribution; the cooling distribution; and any bathroom ventilation other than windows440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.5 (A) to (I)
• The report notes the methods used to observe the roofing, under-floor crawl spaces and attics, signs of previous or active leaks, and signs of water penetration into the basement, crawl space and attic, including the presence of sump pumps and dehumidifiers440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.5 (A) (3), (C) (3)
• The inspector operates attached garage doors and tests and reports on the visible safety reversing feature by interrupting the light beam, tests the polarity and grounding of a representative number of receptacles, and operates a sample of readily accessible ground fault circuit interrupters440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.5 (B) (3), (D) (3)
• The inspector notes the absence of an installed heat source in habitable rooms including kitchens and bathrooms, exposed flues in a smoke chamber used by other appliances, abandoned oil tanks, and any observed evidence of underground fuel storage tanks440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.5 (F) (3)
• Inspectors may not determine the cost of repairing any item noted in their report440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.7 (A) (4)
• Inspectors may not report on market value, marketability or suitability for any use, advise on whether to buy, offer repairs or other licensed services on a home their firm inspected, or operate a system that is shut down or inoperable; for those, they recommend that the seller or the seller's representative demonstrate that they work440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.7 (A)
• The written report goes, confidentially, only to the client unless the client directs otherwise, a written contract is required for every inspection, and inspectors keep a copy of every report for at least three years from its completion440-RICR-10-00-5, ss. 5.24.3 (A) (2), (C), 5.24.11
• A home inspection is a written evaluation of the readily visible and accessible heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems, structural components, foundation, roof, masonry, exterior and interior components, unless the report clearly limits the scope in writing; it is not meant to identify code violations, and it must meet at least the Board's standards of practice. Radon, pests and environmental hazards are outside the standard inspectionR.I. Gen. Laws s. 5-65.1-2 (4) · 440-RICR-10-00-5, s. 5.24.6 (B)
• Working as a home inspector without a license is a misdemeanor (up to one year and 1,000 dollars for a first or second offense, a felony after that), and the Board may fine a licensee up to 5,000 dollars for a first violation and up to 10,000 dollars for a second, including for failing to provide a written reportR.I. Gen. Laws s. 5-65.1-11 (a) (13), (c) · R.I. Gen. Laws s. 5-65.1-13 (a)

What is in it

• RoofRoof covering, Flashing, Skylights, chimneys and penetrations, Gutters, downspouts and roof drainage
• ExteriorWall cladding and trim, Exterior doors and windows, Decks, porches, balconies, steps and railings, Walkways, driveways, grading and drainage
• Structure and foundationFoundation, Basement or crawlspace, Floor structure, Wall, ceiling and roof structure
• HeatingHeating equipment, Ducts, vents and distribution, Flue and venting, Thermostat and controls, Fuel storage tanks
• CoolingCooling equipment, Condensate drainage, Operation and temperature differential
• PlumbingWater supply and distribution, Drain, waste and vent, Water heater, Fixtures and faucets, Sump pump, Main water shut-off valve location
• ElectricalService entrance and grounding, Main panel and overcurrent protection, Branch wiring, GFCI and AFCI protection, Receptacles, switches and fixtures, Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Fireplaces and chimneysFireplace, firebox and hearth, Chimney, flue and cap, Damper
• Attic, insulation and ventilationAttic access, Insulation, Attic ventilation, Bath, kitchen and dryer exhaust
• InteriorWalls, ceilings and floors, Interior doors and windows, Stairs, handrails and guards, Cabinets and countertops
• Built-in appliancesRange, oven and cooktop, Dishwasher, Built-in microwave, Food waste disposer
• GarageGarage door and opener (auto-reverse), Fire separation and entry door, Floor, walls and ceiling

Rules last reviewed October 14, 2026. Read the full Rhode Island home inspection report requirements.