US Tenant Rights by State — Coming to LeasePlain
Tenant rights in the United States are governed at the state level, with additional protections in many cities and counties. LeasePlain is expanding to help US renters understand their leases. Here's what you need to know about the US system.
How US Tenancy Law Works
Unlike Canada, where provinces each have comprehensive residential tenancy legislation, the United States has no single federal residential tenancy framework. Tenant rights are governed primarily by state law, with significant additional protections in many cities and counties — particularly around rent stabilization and just-cause eviction.
The result is extreme variation. A tenant in San Francisco has some of the strongest protections in the world. A tenant in a rural Texas county may have very few. The same state can have wildly different rules depending on the city.
Federal law does play one major role: the Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. All landlords in the US must comply, regardless of state.
The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act also impose some federal requirements on landlords — particularly around tenant screening and credit checks.
LeasePlain is currently focused on Canada
Our AI lease analyzer and tenant rights guides are currently optimized for Canadian law — primarily Ontario. We are actively building out coverage for US states, starting with New York and California. Sign up to be notified when US analysis launches.
Analyze a Canadian Lease NowTenant Rights by State: Overview
Full state-by-state guides are coming soon. Here is a snapshot of key protections in major US states.
New York
Key legislation: Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA, 2019)
- Rent stabilization covers over 1 million apartments in New York City
- Limits on security deposits: max 1 month's rent statewide
- Stronger just-cause eviction protections for stabilized units
- Landlords must give advance notice (30–90 days) before non-renewal
California
Key legislation: AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act, 2019)
- Statewide rent cap: increases limited to 5% + local CPI (max 10%) annually
- Just-cause eviction required for covered units after 12 months of tenancy
- Security deposit capped at 2 months' rent (unfurnished); 3 months' (furnished)
- Many cities (San Francisco, Los Angeles) have additional, stronger local protections
Florida
Key legislation: Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- No statewide rent control — landlords can raise rent by any amount with proper notice
- Security deposit: no statutory cap, but must be held in separate account or bonded
- Landlord must return deposit within 15 days (no claim) or 30 days (with claim)
- 7-day notice for non-payment; 15-day notice for other lease violations
Texas
Key legislation: Texas Property Code
- No statewide rent control; Houston, Dallas, and Austin have no rent caps
- Security deposit: no statutory cap; must be returned within 30 days of move-out
- 3-day notice for non-payment of rent before eviction proceedings
- Landlord must repair conditions that affect health or safety within reasonable time