Rent control laws limit the amount a landlord can increase rents on existing tenants. Most states have laws that prohibit local governments from enacting rent control measures. But over 180 municipalities in the United States have rent control measures—and all of them are located in California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C.
The state of Oregon has a statewide rent control law that limits annual rent increases to 7% plus the increase in the consumer price index.
In New Jersey, rent control laws are determined at the municipal level rather than statewide. This means that each city or town in New Jersey can enact its own rent control ordinances. These ordinances typically regulate how much a landlord can increase rent for existing tenants and may include provisions for how often rent can be increased, the maximum allowable percentage increase, and the conditions under which a landlord can apply for an exemption to exceed these limits. It's important for both landlords and tenants to be aware of the specific rent control laws in their municipality, as they can vary significantly from one place to another within the state. Unlike Oregon, which has a statewide rent control law capping annual rent increases at 7% plus the consumer price index, New Jersey's approach is decentralized, with no uniform state cap on rent increases.