Rent Increase Laws by State — 50-State Cap Comparison
Which states cap rent increases, and which leave it to cities? Every statewide cap, preemption rule, and statute in one sortable table.
Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by the ValidNotice editorial team · Informational only — not legal advice
The definitive 50-state rent cap table
Only a few states cap rent increases statewide — California, Oregon, and Washington with percentage formulas, plus districtwide rent stabilization in D.C. Everywhere else, limits (if any) come from city or county ordinances, and a few states even bar their cities from imposing them. This table, from our October 2026 verified dataset, shows the statewide picture at a glance. Click any column header to sort; click a state name for its dedicated checker, exemptions, and sources.
| State | Statewide cap | Local rules | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Alaska | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Arizona | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Arkansas | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| California | 5% + CPI, max 10% | State cap applies; local rules may add requirements | Cal. Civ. Code §§1947.12–1947.13 (AB 1482) |
| Colorado | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Connecticut | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; Conn. fair rent commission statutes |
| Delaware | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| District of Columbia | CPI-W + 2%, max 10% | State cap applies; local rules may add requirements | D.C. Rental Housing Act of 1985; DHCD rent control pamphlet |
| Florida | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Georgia | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Hawaii | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Idaho | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Illinois | No statewide cap | Local caps preempted by state law | 50 ILCS 825/ (Rent Control Preemption Act) |
| Indiana | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Iowa | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Kansas | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Kentucky | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Louisiana | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Maine | No statewide cap | Local caps preempted by state law | 2026 research; Me. L.D. 1765 (132nd Leg.) |
| Maryland | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; Montgomery County Code §§29-57–29-58 |
| Massachusetts | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Michigan | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Minnesota | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Mississippi | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Missouri | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Montana | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Nebraska | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Nevada | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| New Hampshire | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| New Jersey | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| New Mexico | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| New York | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | N.Y. Rent Stabilization Law; Emergency Tenant Protection Act; Good Cause Eviction Law |
| North Carolina | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| North Dakota | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Ohio | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Oklahoma | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Oregon | 7% + CPI, max 10% | State cap applies; local rules may add requirements | ORS 90.323 (DAS publication at ORS 90.324); Oregon OHCS 2026 guidance |
| Pennsylvania | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Rhode Island | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| South Carolina | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| South Dakota | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Tennessee | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Texas | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Utah | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Vermont | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Virginia | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Washington | 7% + CPI, max 10% | State cap applies; local rules may add requirements | Wash. HB 1217 (2025); RCW 59.18.700–.710; WA Dept. of Commerce 2026 guidance |
| West Virginia | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Wisconsin | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
| Wyoming | No statewide cap | Local ordinances may apply — verify locally | 2026 state-law surveys; no statewide rent-control statute identified |
Published annual figures (for example, Oregon’s yearly maximum) are updated by the relevant agency — confirm the current year’s figure before calculating.
Frequently asked questions
Which states have a statewide rent cap?
California (5% + CPI, max 10%), Oregon (7% + CPI, max 10%), and Washington (7% + CPI, max 10%) have statewide percentage caps, and the District of Columbia has districtwide rent stabilization. Sort the table by “Statewide cap” to group them.
What does “preempted” mean in the local-rules column?
It means state law bars cities and counties from imposing their own rent control — so neither the state nor (generally) local governments cap increases there. The lease and notice-period rules still apply.
Is this legal advice?
No. This table summarizes our researched rent-cap dataset, verified October 2026. Rent regulation changes frequently — verify the current rules for your jurisdiction before raising rent.