US Tenant Rights by State: California, New York, Florida

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on seven protected characteristics: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. It is illegal for a landlord to refuse to rent, set different terms or conditions, or otherwise treat a tenant differently because of any of these characteristics.

Many states and cities extend these protections further — adding source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and immigration status as protected classes. The federal law sets a floor, not a ceiling.

Landlords of housing built before 1978 must disclose any known lead-based paint hazards and provide tenants with an EPA-approved informational pamphlet (Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home) before the lease is signed. This applies to all 50 states. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $19,507 per violation (adjusted for inflation). Lead exposure — particularly in older housing stock — remains a significant health risk, especially for children.

VAWA protects survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking from being evicted or denied housing because they are victims of such crimes. A landlord in federally assisted housing cannot evict a tenant solely because they were the victim of abuse, nor can they hold an incident of abuse-related crime against the tenant at lease renewal. Survivors may also have the right to an emergency lease transfer to a different unit. Many states and cities have enacted analogous protections that apply to private (non-subsidized) housing.

Landlords must provide reasonable accommodations — changes in rules, policies, or services — when necessary for a person with a disability to have equal opportunity to use and enjoy the housing. They must also allow reasonable modifications(physical changes to the unit or common areas) at the tenant's expense, unless the landlord receives federal funding. Examples: allowing a guide dog despite a no-pets policy; installing a grab bar in a bathroom; assigning a reserved accessible parking space. Landlords cannot charge extra fees or deposits solely because of a disability-related accommodation.

Which US states have rent control?

Rent control exists at the state or local level, not federally. California has a statewide rent cap under AB 1482 (5% + CPI, max 10%), plus stronger local ordinances in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Oakland. New York has rent stabilization covering approximately one million NYC apartments and a Good Cause Eviction law (2024) limiting no-fault rent increases. Oregon has statewide rent control (7% + CPI, max 10%). New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington DC have local rent control laws. Florida, Texas, and most Southern states have no rent control — in fact, Florida HB 1417 (2023) preempted all local rent control ordinances statewide.

What is the security deposit limit in California?

Under AB 12 (effective July 1, 2024), California landlords can charge a maximum security deposit of one month's rent — for both furnished and unfurnished units. There is one exception: small landlords who own no more than two residential properties with a combined total of four or fewer units may charge up to two months' rent for unfurnished units. Before July 1, 2024, the limit was two months' rent for unfurnished units and three months' for furnished units.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Florida?

Under Florida Statutes § 83.49, if a landlord intends to make no deductions, the deposit must be returned within 15 days of the tenant vacating. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must send an itemized written notice of the claim within 30 days of the tenant vacating. If the landlord fails to send this itemized notice within 30 days, they forfeit the right to make any deductions from the deposit.

What is Good Cause Eviction in New York?

The Good Cause Eviction Law, enacted as part of New York's 2024 budget, applies automatically in New York City and allows municipalities statewide to opt in. For covered tenants, landlords must have a valid legal reason (good cause) to evict or to refuse lease renewal. For no-fault non-renewals (such as the landlord wanting the unit back without fault by the tenant), landlords may only raise rent by the lesser of 8.82% or 5% plus CPI. The law applies to buildings with four or more units but has exemptions for small landlords (owner-occupied buildings of 10 or fewer units), owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units, and buildings less than 30 years old.

Can a landlord raise rent by any amount in Florida?

Yes. Florida has no statewide rent control, and since HB 1417 took effect in July 2023, no local government in Florida can enact or maintain a rent control ordinance. This law expressly preempted Miami-Dade County's rent stabilization measure that voters had approved in 2022. A Florida landlord can raise rent by any amount — 10%, 50%, or more — with proper notice. The required notice period depends on the tenancy type: 15 days for month-to-month, 30 days for tenancies over one year, 60 days if over two years, and 90 days if over three years.