Source: https://ipropertymanagement.com/laws/rent-control
Timestamp: 2020-04-02 12:45:05
Document Index: 543108379

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 11', '§ 33', '§ 14', '§ 38', '§ 7', '§ 44', '§ 55', '§ 32', '§ 364', '§ 12', '§ 65', '§ 9', '§9', '§ 13', '§ 13', '§ 1', '§ 123', '§ 471', '§ 21', '§ 441', '§ 2', '§ 42', '§ 47', '§ 11', '§ 91', '§ 27', '§ 6', '§ 66', '§ 66', '§ 214', '§ 57', '§ 36', '§ 66']

Rent Control Laws by State [2020]: Which States Have Them?
Most states either don’t have rent control laws or have a statewide ban on municipalities or counties enacting rent control legislation. Below is a breakdown of what laws exist in each state.
Rent control is a type of regulation that would stipulate how much (and how frequently) landlords may increase rent on private residential properties and in some circumstances, restricts the eviction process.
Most states have in place laws that preempt any kind of rent control, and some also exclude inclusionary zoning. Home Rule law exists in other states, which prevents this kind of legislation being passed by any local government or municipality not explicitly authorized by the state.
Statewide Caps + City/County Laws
City/County Laws
Dillon Law / Home Rule
Preempts Rent Control:
AL Code § 11-80-8.1 (2019)
Enactment of ordinances, resolutions, etc., controlling rent charged for leasing private property prohibited.
(a) As used in this section, “local governmental unit” means any political subdivision of this state including, but not limited to, a county, city, town, or municipality, if the political subdivision provides local government services in a geographically limited area of this state as its primary purpose and it has the power to act primarily on behalf of that area.
(b) A local governmental unit shall not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance, resolution, or rule that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private property. This section does not impair the right of any local governmental unit to manage and control property in which the local governmental unit has a property interest.
No rent control, does not preempt rent control:
Provides for Home Rule in state constitution to First Class Cities & Boroughs
AZ Rev Stat § 33-1329 (2019)
AR Code § 14-16-601 (2018)
(a) As used in this section, “local governmental unit” means a political subdivision of this state, including, but not limited to, a county, city, village, or township, if the political subdivision provides local government services for residents in a geographically limited area of this state as its primary purpose and has the power to act primarily on behalf of that area.
(b) A local governmental unit shall not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property.
(c) This section does not impair the right of any local governmental unit to manage and control residential property in which the local governmental unit has a property interest.
Statewide rent control caps & city-specific laws:
Through 2030, rent increases are capped at 5% plus the increase in regional Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 10% of the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months, whichever is less. Rent can only be raised twice over any 12-month time period. AB1482 applies to units not covered by city and county rent control laws but does not override those laws. (Summary)
Los Angeles County has specific laws as do most major cities in California.
Types of properties that are exempt from rent control may include:
rental units part of a main residence such as a carriage house
The statute does not impair the right of any state agency, county or municipality to control and manage properties that are affiliated with housing authorities or other similar agencies.
CO Rev Stat § 38-12-301 (2018)
The rest of the statute goes on to prohibit ordinances and resolutions on private residential housing that will:
require voluntary agreements between local governments to provide affordable housing,
place restrictions on titles to units that limit rent or provide affordable housing pursuant to voluntary agreements with local governments
allow a permit applicant or property owner to place a deed restriction on the title
deny application for development permit because the permit declines to enter into an agreement limiting rent on private residential property or housing units
CGS § 7-148b
Connecticut repealed its laws allowing local rent control in 1956. While it preempts rent control, the law does permit fair rent commissions that can receive and investigate complaints, issue subpoenas, and hold hearings. Landlords may be compelled to reduce rents but cannot be deprived of a “just and reasonable return on the value of the rental property.”
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any town, city or borough may, through its legislative body, create a fair rent commission to make studies and investigations, conduct hearings and receive complaints relative to rental charges on housing accommodations, except those accommodations rented on a seasonal basis, within its jurisdiction, which term shall include mobile manufactured homes and mobile manufactured home park lots, in order to control and eliminate excessive rental charges on such accommodations… The commission, for such purposes, may compel the attendance of persons at hearings, issue subpoenas and administer oaths, issue orders and continue, review, amend, terminate or suspend any of its orders and decisions. The commission may be empowered to retain legal counsel to advise it.
Provides for Home Rule through legislative statute to any municipality.
2019 Florida Statue 125.0103
Further sections stipulate that:
No law or ordinance can be passed to control rent unless it is a grave emergency and any such law will expire within a year
No rent control laws may be passed that affect seasonal/vacation/short-term rental units, second homes, or units in luxury apartment buildings
Official Code of Georgia 2019 § 44-7-19
Provides for Home Rule through state constitution.
Idaho Code § 55-307 (2019)
(2) A local governmental unit shall not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential property. This provision does not impair the right of any local governmental unit to manage and control residential property in which the local governmental unit has a property interest.
2019 Illinois Compiled Statutes 50 ILCS 825/ – Rent Control Preemption Act
Indiana Code IN Code § 32-31-1-20 (2019)
Sec. 20. (a) Subject to IC 36-1-3-8.5, this section does not apply to privately owned real property for which government funds or benefits have been allocated from the United States government, the state, or a political subdivision for the express purpose of providing reduced rents to low or moderate-income tenants.
(b) A unit (as defined in IC 36-1-2-23) may not regulate rental rates for privately owned real property, through a zoning ordinance or otherwise, unless the regulation is authorized by an act of the general assembly.
IA Code § 364.3 (2019)
9. A city shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance imposing any limitation on the amount of rent that can be charged for leasing private residential or commercial property. This subsection does not prevent the right of a city to manage and control residential property in which the city has a property interest.
KS Stat § 12-16,120 (2018)
Prohibiting rent control or control of real estate purchase price by political subdivisions; exceptions. (a) No political subdivision of this state, including, but not limited to, a county, municipality or township, shall enact, maintain or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged or the purchase price agreed upon between the parties to the transaction for the lease or purchase of privately-owned residential or commercial property.
(d) No political subdivision shall require any owner of privately owned property to agree to any requirements that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged or the purchase price agreed upon between the parties to the transaction for the lease or purchase of privately owned property, as a condition for consideration or approval of: (1) Any building permit or plat; or (2) any request for a zoning regulation, boundary, classification or a conditional use permit, or for a change or variance in a zoning regulation, boundary, classification or a conditional use permit.
KY Rev Stat § 65.875 (2019)
65.875 Prohibition against local rent control on private property. Notwithstanding the provisions of KRS 67.712, 67.083, 82.082, and 83.420, to ensure uniformity and statewide application, only the General Assembly shall enact legislation which would control rents on private property. This section is not intended to impair the right of any city, county, or urban-county to manage and control any property in which it has an interest through a housing authority or similar agency which provides housing assistance, nor is this section intended to include those programs operated by any city, county, or urban-county pursuant to federal grant programs.
LA Rev Stat § 9:3258 (2017)Lessor’s right to own, control, use, enjoy, protect and dispose of property and things
Every lessor, in accordance with the provisions of Article I, Section 4 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, shall have the right to the ownership, control, use, enjoyment, protection and right to dispose of private property including any alienation thereof by lease or otherwise, where a person by law or contract has a legal right to give to another the enjoyment of a thing or property for a valid consideration; which said rights shall include all rights granted to lessors by Title IX of the Louisiana Civil Code dealing with lease, and which said rights shall not be altered, abridged or diminished except by state law, and which said rights are subject to the reasonable exercise of the police power.
Louisiana State Constitution Article VI. §9. Limitations of Local Governmental Subdivisions
Section 9.(A) Limitations. No local governmental subdivision shall… (2) except as provided by law, enact an ordinance governing private or civil relationships.
No statewide rent control, some cities and counties are under rent control:
MD Local Gov Code § 13-923 (2018) The County Commissioners of Washington County may enact a local law or adopt regulations to control the increase of rent in the county.
MD Local Gov Code § 13-922 (2018) The governing body of Frederick County may enact an ordinance to control the increase of rent in the county.
Takoma Park Rent Stabilization Law
All landlords who are under rent stabilization are required to give at least a two-month written notice of a rent increase and cannot increase the rent more than the city’s rent stabilization allowance in effect at the time of the increase. The Current Rent Increase Allowance is 1.6% and applies to all rent increases occurring between July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
C. Reporting of Rents. Landlords must file an annual rent report with the Department on a form prescribed by the Department.
The Massachusetts Rent Control Prohibition Act. Ch. 40P § 1-5
Section 2. The purpose of this chapter is to establish a uniform statewide policy that broadly prohibits any regulatory scheme based upon or implementing rent control, except where, following an initial six month period, compliance with such a scheme is voluntary and uncoerced on the part of property owners. Even when voluntary, rent control should be severely restricted in scope. This policy is based on the belief that the public is best served by free-market rental rates for residential properties and by unrestricted homeownership. The terms of this chapter shall be liberally construed to effect this purpose.
(c) a municipality adopting such regulation shall compensate owners of rent-controlled units for each unit in the amount of the difference between the unit’s fair market rent and the unit’s below market, rent-controlled rent, with such compensation coming from the municipality’s general funds, so that the cost of any rent control shall be borne by all taxpayers of a municipality and not by the owners of regulated units only.
MI Comp L § 123.411 (2019) “Local governmental unit” defined; rent control prohibited; management and control of residential property; incentive to increase supply of certain residential property.
MN Stat § 471.9996 (2019)
Subdivision 1. In general. No statutory or home rule charter city, county, or town may adopt or renew by ordinance or otherwise any law to control rents on private residential property except as provided in subdivision 2. This section does not impair the right of any statutory or home rule charter city, county, or town:
(1) to manage or control property in which it has a financial interest through a housing authority or similar agency;
(2) to contract with a property owner;
(3) to act as required or authorized by laws or regulations of the United States government or this state; or
(4) to mediate between property owners and tenants for the purpose of negotiating rents.
Subd. 2. Exception. Subdivision 1 does not preclude a statutory or home rule charter city, county, or town from controlling rents on private residential property to the extent that the city, county, or town has the power to adopt an ordinance, charter amendment, or law to control these rents if the ordinance, charter amendment, or law that controls rents is approved in a general election. Subdivision 1 does not limit any power or authority of the voters of a statutory or home rule charter city, county, or town to petition for an ordinance or charter amendment to control rents on private residential property to the extent that the power or authority is otherwise provided for by law, and if the ordinance or charter amendment is approved in a general election. This subdivision does not grant any additional power or authority to the citizens of a statutory or home rule charter city, county, or town to vote on any question beyond that contained in other law.
Subdivision 1 does not apply to any statutory city unless the citizens of the statutory city have the authority to vote on the issue of rent control granted by other law.
MS Code § 21-17-5 (2018)
(2) Unless such actions are specifically authorized by another statute or law of the State of Mississippi, this section shall not authorize the governing authorities of municipalities to … (h) without prior legislative approval, regulate, directly or indirectly, the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential property in which the municipality does not have a property interest.
MO Rev Stat § 441.043
Counties and cities not to adopt ordinances regulating rents of private or commercial property, exceptions.
441.043. No county or city, or county or city with a charter form of government may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which regulates the amount of rent to be charged for privately-owned, single-family, or multiple-unit residential or commercial rental property. This section shall not be construed as prohibiting any county or city, or any authority created by a county or city for that purpose, from:
(1) Regulating in any way property belonging to that city, county, or authority; (2) Entering into agreements with private persons which regulate the amount of rent charged for subsidized rental properties; or (3) Enacting ordinances or resolutions restricting rent for properties assisted with community development block grant funds.
Provides for Home Rule in state constitution to municipalities
Provides for Home Rule in state constitution.
Provides for Home Rule in state constitution to any city or town.
121 N.H. 268 (1981) LEONARD GIRARD & a. v. TOWN OF ALLENSTOWN & a.No. 80-359.
The court found that a statute providing that towns may make bylaws for “the making and ordering of their prudential affairs” did not authorize towns to adopt and enforce a rent control ordinance.
“…We are unaware of any decision of this court that would support the proposition that towns have the power to control rents or otherwise interfere with private contracts concerning the rental of property under the vague authority of “ordering their prudential affairs.” When placed in its historical and proper constitutional context, we do not consider the language “to order their prudential affairs” to constitute a separate and distinct grant of legislative authority. …a town does not have the authority to enact a rent control ordinance.”
Does not have state law controlling rent increases or leveling, many municipalities do.
Exemptions: NJ Rev Stat § 2a:42-84.5 (2018)
2. a. In any municipality which has enacted or which hereafter enacts a rent control or rent leveling ordinance, other than under the authority of P.L.1966, c.168 (C.2A:42-74 et seq.), those provisions of the ordinance which limit the periodic or regular increases in base rentals of dwelling units shall not apply to multiple dwellings constructed after the effective date of this act, for a period of time not to exceed the period of amortization of any initial mortgage loan obtained for the multiple dwelling, or for 30 years following completion of construction, whichever is less.
Statewide, County, & Municipal Rent Control:
The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019:
Extends and makes certain provisions of law permanent relating to rent control and rent stabilization (Part A); repeals provisions of law relating to rent increases after vacancy of housing accommodations (Part B); relates to vacancy of certain housing accommodations (Part C); relates to vacancies in certain housing accommodations and repeals various provisions of law relating to vacancy decontrol (Part D); relates to regulation of rents (Part E); relates to investigation of rent overcharge complaints (Part F); establishes the “statewide tenant protection act of 2019”; expands rent and eviction protections statewide (Part G); relates to rent adjustments and prohibition of fuel pass-along charges (Part H); relates to recovery of certain housing accommodations (Part I); relates to not-for-profits use of certain residential dwellings (Part J); relates to the temporary increase in rent in certain cases (Part K); enacts the “rent regulation reporting act of 2019” (Part L); enacts the “statewide housing security and tenant protection act of 2019” (Part M); relates to conversions to cooperative or condominium ownership in New York city (Part N); and relates to the duties and responsibilities of manufactured home park owners and residents (Part O).
NC Gen Stat § 42-14.1 (2019)
No county or city as defined by G.S. 160A-1 may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which regulates the amount of rent to be charged for privately owned, single-family or multiple-unit residential or commercial rental property. This section shall not be construed as prohibiting any county or city, or any authority created by a county or city for that purpose, from:
(3) Enacting ordinances or resolutions restricting rent for properties assisted with Community Development Block Grant Funds.
2019 North Dakota Century Code § 47-16-02.1.Rent controls – Prohibited.
A political subdivision may not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property. This section does not impair the right of a political subdivision to manage and control residential property in which the political subdivision has a fee title interest.
Provides for Home Rule in state constitution to any municipality.
OK Stat § 11-14-101.1 (2018)
A. No municipal governing body may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which regulates the amount of rent to be charged for privately owned, single-family or multiple unit residential or commercial rental property.
B. This section shall not be construed to prohibit any municipality or any authority created by a municipality for that purpose from: 1. regulating in any way property belonging to that municipality or authority; 2. entering into agreements with private persons which regulate the amount of rent charged for subsidized rental properties; or 3. enacting ordinances or resolutions restricting rent for properties assisted with federal Community Development Block Grant Funds.
Statewide Rent Control, Preempts Local Rent Control:
OR Rev Stat § 91.225 (2017)
the Legislative Assembly declares that the imposition of rent control on housing in the State of Oregon is a matter of statewide concern.
(7) This section is applicable throughout this state and in all cities and counties therein. The electors or the governing body of a city or county shall not enact, and the governing body shall not enforce, any ordinance, resolution or other regulation that is inconsistent with this section.
Provides for Home Rule in state constitution via legislation all local governments.
Applies the Dillon Rule to matters or governmental units not accounted for in the constitutional amendment or statute which grants Home Rule.
SC Code § 27-39-60 (2019)
SD Codified L § 6-1-13 (2018)
Rent control of private residential property prohibited. No local governmental unit may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance, resolution, or other enactment that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential property. This section does not impair the right of any local governmental unit to manage and control residential property in which the local governmental unit has a property interest.
Preempts Rent Control, preempts mandatory inclusionary zoning:
TN Code § 66-35-101-103 (2018)
(a) A local governmental unit shall not enact, maintain or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a local government unit, or any subdivision or instrumentality thereof, shall not enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance, resolution, regulation, rule, or other requirement of any type that: (A) Requires the direct or indirect allocation of existing or newly constructed private residential or commercial rental units to be sold or rented at below market rates; (B) Conditions any zoning change, variance, building permit, development entitlements through amendment to the zoning map, or any change in land-use restrictions or requirements, on the allocation of existing or newly constructed private residential or commercial rental units to be sold or rented at below market rates; or (C) Requires a person to waive the person’s constitutionally protected rights related to real property in order that the local government unit can increase the number of existing or newly constructed private residential or commercial rental units that would be available for purchase or lease at below market rates within the jurisdiction of the local government unit.
(2) This subsection (b) does not prohibit a local government unit from creating or implementing a purely voluntary incentive-based program designed to increase the construction or rehabilitation of workforce or affordable private residential or commercial rental units, which may include providing local tax incentives, subsidization, real property or infrastructure assistance, or any other incentive that makes construction of affordable housing more economical, so long as no power or authority granted to the local government unit to regulate zoning or land use planning is used to incentivize or leverage a person to develop, build, sell, or rent housing at below market value.
TN Code § 66-35-103 (2018)
This chapter does not impair the right of a local governmental unit to manage and control residential or commercial property in which such local governmental unit has a property interest.
Texas Local Government Code Title 7.A § 214.902
RENT CONTROL. (a) The governing body of a municipality may, by ordinance, establish rent control if:
UT Code § 57-20-1 (2018)
(1) A county, city, or town may not enact an ordinance or resolution that would control rents or fees on private residential property unless it has the express approval of the Legislature.
(2) This section does not impair the right of a state agency, county, city, or town to enforce its zoning, building, and planning authority.
WA Rev Code § 36.01.130 (2018)
The imposition of controls on rent is of statewide significance and is preempted by the state. No county may enact, maintain or enforce ordinances or other provisions which regulate the amount of rent to be charged for single-family or multiple-unit residential rental structures or sites other than properties in public ownership, under public management, or properties providing low-income rental housing under joint public-private agreements for the financing or provision of such low-income rental housing. This section shall not be construed as prohibiting any county from entering into agreements with private persons which regulate or control the amount of rent to be charged for rental properties.
Provides for Home Rule in state constitution for cities of 2000+
WI Stat § 66.1015 (2018)
(1) No city, village, town or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for the use of a residential rental dwelling unit.
(2) This section does not prohibit a city, village, town, county, or housing authority or the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority from doing any of the following:
(3) Inclusionary zoning prohibited.
Provides for Home Rule in state constitution for municipalities