Is there rent control in District of Columbia?
Yes. In District of Columbia, the Rental Housing Act limits the annual rent increase on a covered unit to the yearly inflation adjustment plus 2 percentage points, never more than 10%, which is 4.1% for increases taking effect from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, and 2.1% for registered elderly tenants and tenants with disabilities. Units in buildings permitted after 1975, subsidized units, and units owned by a natural person who owns no more than four rental units in the District and registers them as exempt are not covered. This is D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.05, 42-3502.06, 42-3502.08.
| What | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Rent control | Citywide: 4.1% for May 2026 to April 2027 |
| What the law does | Caps rent increases citywide |
Source
D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.05, 42-3502.06, 42-3502.08
Read the statute in the Code of the District of Columbia (DC Council): code.dccouncil.gov.
Checked against the statute on October 23, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
This page states whether the state lets its cities control rent, and any statewide limit on an increase, so a renewal can be checked before it is offered. In New York City, Seayora’s rent-increase advisor goes further: it computes the highest increase the Rent Guidelines Board order and the Good Cause standard allow for each apartment, with the law cited, and gives no number where the law is not verified.
Guides on this rule
- D.C. Landlord-Tenant Law After the RENTAL Act: 2026 Guide — Washington, D.C. rules for 2026: the 10-day nonpayment notice and $600 floor, the 5% late fee cap, rent control caps of 4.1% and 2.1%, deposits and TOPA.
Compare this rule in every state
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