(a)  When a change in the use of the land occurs the assessor shall record in the land evidence records a notice of the change in use, stipulating on the land evidence records, a description of the property, its plat and lot number (if any), the fair market value, and the amount of taxes due. Similar notices shall be mailed to the present owner of the property and the director of environmental management by registered or certified mail within twenty-four (24) hours of the recording. The tax constitutes a lien on the property at the time of recording the notice of land use change and the tax becomes due and payable in full within ninety (90) days of the date of recording. The lien continues in effect until the taxes are paid in full. Every city and town shall make provisions for the payment in installments of any land use change tax, permitting persons to pay the tax in equal quarterly installments, with the final quarter to be paid in full within one year of the date when the change of use notice is recorded, as prescribed in this subsection. Failure by the owner to pay the taxes in a timely manner as prescribed in this subsection allows the tax collector to advertise and sell the property in the same manner as prescribed in chapter 9 of this title.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 44-5-40

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
  • town council: include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9

(b)  The board of assessment review of any city or town, or the city or town council if there is no board of review in any city or town, has the authority to hear and consider the appeal of any property owner concerning the fair market value placed on his or her land by the assessor, and if it appears that the land has been appraised in excess of its fair market value at the time of the change in use, the board or council has the power to change the value of the land and adjust the land use change tax applied to the land according to the schedule prescribed in § 44-5-39.

History of Section.
P.L. 1968, ch. 288, § 4; P.L. 1980, ch. 252, § 3.