Residential Rent Control Law Guide By State

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� 2014 Landlord.com

When we refer to rent control we mean a scheme created by statute or ordinance that limits the amount by which landlords may increase the amounts they charge for the use and occupancy of their property as a residence by tenants.  In addition, such schemes may do, and always do in some cases, one or more of the following:

  • limit the frequency of rent increases,

  • regulate the timing of rent increases,

  • regulate reductions in services offered in connection with rentals of residences,

  • allow for one-time decontrol of rent upon vacancy of a unit,

  • permit special rent increases in extraordinary circumstances such as renovation or improvement of a unit or building,

  • limit the grounds on which a landlord may evict a tenant, and

  • mandate more or less elaborate arbitration or mediation procedures to adjudicate or settle disputes about the application of the ordinance or statute to the parties.

We exclude commercial rent control and mobile home space rent control from the materials included in the following chart.

This chart is designed to answer the two leading questions asked by landlords and tenants alike when the words �Rent Control� are pronounced: 

  • Am I covered by rent control?

  • If I am, how much can I (or my landlord) raise the rent, and by how much?

The links are an integral part of this chart.  They are not just add-ons.  Follow them to get the full degree of information we have available here for you. 

Caveat:   This chart is as complete as we could make it, and we will make every effort to see that it remains up to date, but situations can change on a day to day basis.  If you are making a serious decision based on whether a property is under rent control or not, then call your city or county government to ask questions.  That is why we included the column titled �U.S. City and County Government Links.�  Based on the information obtained from this chart, you will be able to ask the right questions and get definitive answers. 

State: The level of analysis is on a state by state basis.  Local laws and agencies are linked, where available and relevant. 

Has Cities�:  �Yes� identifies each state which has at least one jurisdiction we have been able to identify that has a rent control law, and includes a link to the municipality's or municipalities' responsible entity.  If we say �None,� we mean �None that we can find.�  It is impossible to prove a negative, so we have searched each state for an instance of rent control, and this search has turned up nothing. 

Prohibits or exempts�:  Yes denotes a state that has prohibited or set certain qualifications for rent control.  Note, New York�s rent control laws are all state administered. 

Has no�:  �Yes� identifies states with no municipalities that have rent control that we have been able to identify at the time of the preparation of this chart.  See the caveat in the introductory statement. 

U.S. City and County�:  This column links to an index to the city and county governments of your state, with all of the contact information necessary to reach responsible agencies who can verify your conclusions or provide further information.]

State

Has Cities With Rent Control

Prohibits Or Preempts Rent Control

Has No Rent Control

U.S. City and County Government Links

Alabama

None

YES

YES

Alaska

None

YES

YES

Arizona

None

YES

YES

Arkansas

None

YES

YES

California

YES
Berkeley
Beverly Hills
East Palo Alto
Hayward
Los Angeles
Los Gatos
Oakland
Palm Springs
San Francisco
San Jose
Santa Monica
West Hollywood

Other than rent control

Campbell
Fremont
Gardena
Glendale
Pasadena
San Diego
San Leandro

YES

Colorado

None

YES

YES

Connecticut

None

YES

YES

Delaware

None

YES

YES

District of Columbia

YES

YES

Florida

None

YES

YES

Georgia

None

YES

YES

Hawaii

None

YES

YES

Idaho

None

YES

YES

Illinois

None

YES

YES

Indiana

None

YES

YES

Iowa

None

YES

YES

Kansas

None

YES

YES

Kentucky

None

YES

YES

Louisiana

None

YES

YES

Maine

None

YES

YES

Maryland

YES

College Park
Frederick County
Takoma Park
Washington County

YES

Massachusetts

None

YES

YES

Michigan

None

YES

YES

Minnesota

None

YES

YES

Mississippi

None

YES

YES

Missouri

None

YES

YES

Montana

None

YES

YES

Nebraska

None

YES

YES

Nevada

None

YES

YES

New Hampshire

None

YES

YES

New Jersey

YES

Municipalities covered:

There are more than 100 municipalities in New Jersey with rent control ordinances.  Refer to the local government link to the right to see if your property is subject to rent control.

YES

New Mexico

None

YES

YES

New York

YES

New York City
Other municipalities covered
Under Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)

Nassau County:

Glen Cove
Great Neck

Great Neck Plaza
Hempstead
North Hempstead (unincorporated area
Thomaston

Westchester County:

Dobbs Ferry
Greenburgh

Irvington
Larchmont
Mamaroneck (town and village)
Mount Vernon
New Rochelle

Pleasantville
Sleepy Hollow
Tarrytown
White Plains
Yonkers

Under Rent Control

Albany County

Albany
Bethlehem
Green Island
New Scotland

Voorheesville
Watervliet

Erie County

Buffalo
Cheektowaga

Depew
Sloan

Nassau County

Bellerose
Cedarhurst
Floral Park
Flower Hill
Freeport
Glen Cove
Hempstead
Hempstead (Village)

Lawrence
Long Beach
Mineola
New Hyde Park
North Hempstead
Oyster Bay
Sea Cliff
Valley Stream
Westbury
Willston Park

Rensselaer County

Hoosick
Hoosick Falls North Greenbush
Rensselaer

Schenectady County

Niskayuna
Princeton

Westchester County

Ardsley
Dobbs Ferry
East Chester
Greenburgh
Harrison
Hastings-on-Hudson
Larchmont
Mamaroneck
Mamaroneck (Village)
Mount Vernon
New Rochelle

Rye
Sleepy Hollow
Tarrytown
Tuckahoe
White Plains
Yonkers

Under Emergency Tenant Protection Act

Nassau County

Baxter Estates
Cedarhurst
Floral Park
Flower Hill
Freeport
Glen Cove
Great Neck
Great Neck Plaza
Hempstead (Village)
Long Beach
Lynbrook
Mineola
North Hempstead
North Hempstead (Town-unincorporated)
Rockville Centre
Russell Gardens
Thomaston

Rockland County

Haverstraw Spring Valley

Westchester County

Croton-Harmon
Dobbs Ferry
East Chester

Greenburgh
Harrison
Hastings-on-Hudson
Irvington
Larchmont
Mamaroneck (Village)
Manaroneck
Mount Vernon
Mt. Kisco
New Rochelle
Pleasantville
Port Chester
Sleepy Hollow

Tarrytown
White Plains
Yonkers

YES

North Carolina

None

YES

YES

North Dakota

None

YES

YES

Ohio

None

YES

YES

Oklahoma

None

YES

YES

Oregon

None

YES

YES

Pennsylvania

None

YES

YES

Rhode Island

None

YES

YES

South Carolina

None

YES

YES

South Dakota

None

YES

YES

Tennessee

None

YES

YES

TeYesas

None

YES

YES

Utah

None

YES

YES

Vermont

None

YES

YES

Virginia

None

YES

YES

Washington

None

YES

YES

West Virginia

None

YES

YES

Wisconsin

None

YES

YES

Wyoming

None

YES

YES

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