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Rent Control Laws in New York

New York has no single statewide rent cap, but state law lets localities adopt rent stabilization under the ETPA; it covers New York City, Kingston, and ETPA localities in Nassau, Rockland, and Westchester counties, and rent control remains in New York City, Nassau, and Westchester.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New York at a glance

Statewide rent cap
No
Since June 14, 2019 any locality can adopt rent stabilization under the ETPA after finding a vacancy rate under 5%.
Local rent control banned
No, state law authorizes it
Local rent control
New York City, Kingston, parts of Nassau, Rockland, Westchester
ETPA covers buildings of 6 or more units built before 1974 in adopting localities. Rent control covers some pre-1947 buildings in NYC, Nassau, and Westchester.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New York

Does New York have a statewide rent cap?

No. Statewide rent cap in New York: no. Since June 14, 2019 any locality can adopt rent stabilization under the ETPA after finding a vacancy rate under 5%.

Does New York law ban cities from adopting rent control?

No, state law authorizes it. Local rent control banned in New York: no, state law authorizes it.

Which cities in New York have rent control?

Local rent control in New York: New York City, Kingston, parts of Nassau, Rockland, Westchester. ETPA covers buildings of 6 or more units built before 1974 in adopting localities. Rent control covers some pre-1947 buildings in NYC, Nassau, and Westchester.

Where do the New York rent control laws come from?

The rules above come from Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 and Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The Court of Appeals upheld Kingston's adoption of the ETPA on June 18, 2025. Courts declared Newburgh's and Poughkeepsie's 2023 and 2024 adoptions null and void over flawed vacancy studies, and Nyack opted out in January 2024.

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.