Rent increase limits in District of Columbia
4.1%
District of Columbia limits rent increases statewide: CPI-W + 2%, max 10%; elderly/disabled lesser of CPI-W, SS COLA, or 5%. 2026-05-01 to 2027-04-30 (elderly/disabled registered: 2.1%).
- Written notice
- 60 days
- Local rent control
- No state ban on local rent control found
Rent-increase rule · D.C. Code 42-3509.04(b) (as amended by D.C. Law 25-65, 2023); 42-3502.08(a)(1)(E) · checked · source
D.C. is not a state; Rental Housing Act of 1985 is itself the local rent control law · checked · source
Unverified — check with your city/state
Changing in 2027
- Date in the source: District of Columbia: Resets 2027-05-01 · source
The rules in full
Statewide cap
Rent stabilization (rent control) for covered units: annual adjustment of general applicability = prior-year CPI-W change; occupied-unit increase may not exceed that adjustment plus 2%, total capped at 10% (HCBS-waiver-provider units: lesser of 5% or adjustment); elderly/disabled tenants: 42-3502.24 (lesser of CPI-W, Social Security COLA, or 5%). For May 1, 2026-Apr 30, 2027: 4.1% (CPI-W 2.1% + 2%) general; 2.1% for elderly/disabled per OTA. One increase per 12 months. Applies only to covered (mostly pre-1976) units; exempt units have no cap. Council temporary/emergency acts (D.C. Law 26-1, D.C. Act 26-3) added lower caps (6% / 4%) for 2023-2025 adjustments.
Written notice
Rent stabilized units: increase not effective until the first day rent is normally paid occurring more than 60 calendar days after notice is given to the tenant (plus notice content requirements, e.g. elderly/disabled notice, registration, housing-code compliance). Notice period for non-covered (exempt) units not found.
Local rent control
No preemption concept (District law); Congress retains authority under the Home Rule Act. Not a state-preemption case.
Rent Increase Notice Kit
Your notice, ready to send
The free answer is general. The kit is yours: it uses your names, your address, your rents and your state's rules for District of Columbia.
- Your letter, filled in: names, address, old and new rent, ready to print or save as PDF
- Correct notice date for your state: the earliest date the new rent can start
- Cap check: a warning if your new rent is above the limit
- Checklist and reminders: what to do before sending, plus calendar reminders (.ics)
- Source links printed on the page, so you can check every rule
General information, not legal advice. Built in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us.
Cities with their own rules
City figures come from each source below. A city cap can be lower than the state cap or work alongside it; check “applies to” for each.
District of Columbia (rent stabilization)
4.1%
2026-05-01 to 2027-04-30; elderly/disabled 2.1%
Rent-stabilized (mostly pre-1976) units
Checked · source
Other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Common questions
What is the maximum rent increase in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has a statewide cap: CPI-W + 2%, max 10%; elderly/disabled lesser of CPI-W, SS COLA, or 5%. 2026-05-01 to 2027-04-30 (elderly/disabled registered: 2.1%).
How much notice must a landlord give in District of Columbia?
60 days. Rent stabilized units: increase not effective until the first day rent is normally paid occurring more than 60 calendar days after notice is given to the tenant (plus notice content requirements, e.g. elderly/disabled notice, registration, housing-code compliance). Notice period for non-covered (exempt) units not found.
Can cities in District of Columbia set their own rent caps?
No state ban on local rent control found. No preemption concept (District law); Congress retains authority under the Home Rule Act. Not a state-preemption case. Unverified — check with your city/state.
Sources and dates for District of Columbia
- Statewide cap: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/42-3502.08 · checked
- Current figure: https://ota.dc.gov/node/1816006 · checked
- Local rent control (state preemption): https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/42-3502.01 Unverified — check with your city/state · checked
- Written notice: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/42-3509.04 · checked
Data checked . Items marked “Unverified — check with your city/state” could not be confirmed on an official page; use the source link and ask your city or state.