Rent Control Laws in the District of Columbia
DC has district-wide rent stabilization: for covered occupied units, a yearly increase is limited to the inflation adjustment plus 2%, never more than 10%, with separate rules for elderly tenants and tenants with disabilities.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
District of Columbia at a glance
- Statewide rent cap
- Yes, 2% plus CPI, max 10%
- Applies to occupied rental units covered by the Rental Housing Act of 1985; units of elderly tenants and tenants with disabilities follow separate rules (D.C. Code 42-3502.24).
- Local rent control banned
- No
- DC is a single jurisdiction; rent stabilization is set by the DC Council in the Rental Housing Act of 1985.
- Local rent control
- District-wide rent stabilization program
The rules in the District of Columbia
Does District of Columbia have a statewide rent cap?
Yes, 2% plus CPI, max 10%. Statewide rent cap in the District of Columbia: yes, 2% plus cpi, max 10%. Applies to occupied rental units covered by the Rental Housing Act of 1985; units of elderly tenants and tenants with disabilities follow separate rules (D.C. Code 42-3502.24).
Does District of Columbia law ban cities from adopting rent control?
No. Local rent control banned in the District of Columbia: no. DC is a single jurisdiction; rent stabilization is set by the DC Council in the Rental Housing Act of 1985.
Which cities in the District of Columbia have rent control?
Local rent control in the District of Columbia: District-wide rent stabilization program.
Where do the the District of Columbia rent control laws come from?
The rules above come from D.C. Code 42-3502.06 and D.C. Code 42-3502.08. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.
Good to know
The DC Council passed temporary Rent Stabilized Housing Inflation Protection emergency acts in 2023, 2024 and 2025 amending D.C. Code 42-3502.08; check the Rental Housing Commission for the current yearly adjustment.
What this means in practice
Even where there is no rent control, a landlord usually cannot raise the rent during a fixed-term lease unless the lease allows it. Increases normally take effect at renewal or after written notice for a month-to-month tenancy, and notice periods are set by state law.
Rent caps and rent stabilization rules commonly have exemptions, such as buildings built in recent years, owner-occupied duplexes, or units owned by individuals rather than companies. A unit can sit in a covered city and still be exempt, so read the coverage section of the law closely.
Local rent control ordinances change through ballot measures and council votes more often than state law does. If you rent or own property in a city that regulates rent, check the city or county housing department for the current allowable increase and any registration requirements.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
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