Voters across multiple states approve rent control measures

Voters in several states approved ballot initiatives to cap rent increases and restrict landlord actions.

These measures appeared in locations across the United States, including New Jersey, California, Maine, and Minnesota. In many cases, these local votes overrode previous legislative changes or successfully blocked attempts to repeal existing rent protections. In Elizabeth, New Jersey, 68 percent of voters approved a measure to revive a cap on annual rent increases.

This rule limits landlords to an increase of either 3 percent or $20 per month, whichever is lower. The measure, supported by the Freelizabeth campaign, was reinstated after a city council had removed the cap in 2023. A judge previously dismissed a lawsuit by landlords who argued the cap violated the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This specific regulation is scheduled to expire in 2027. In California, voters in San Pablo and Salinas acted on rent protections.

San Pablo voters supported Measure S, which proposes capping annual rent increases at 5 percent or 60 percent of inflation, whichever is lower. The measure also requires landlords to provide up to $12,000 in relocation assistance for no-fault evictions. In Salinas, voters defeated a measure that sought to repeal the city's rent stabilization rules. However, Redwood City voters rejected Measure E, which sought to expand just eviction protections and implement similar rent caps. Other regions saw similar local wins.

Voters in Augusta, Maine, approved a 3 percent rent cap specifically for mobile homes. In Saint Paul, Minnesota, voters passed a measure allowing renters to deduct home repair costs from their rent payments. While property owners argue these caps reduce housing quality and supply, local voters have consistently favored these protections in small-scale races.