Chart: Anti-retaliation Statutes for Tenants, State by State
by
Attorney Janet Portman
In most states, landlords cannot retaliate against a tenant for exercising a legal right. Here's a synopsis of those laws.
Most states protect tenants by making it illegal for landlords to retaliate against a tenant who has exercised a legal right. Protected legal rights include:
- complaints to government authorities or to the landlord about health or safety problems
- complaints to government agencies or lawsuits alleging illegal housing discrimination, and
- political activity, including sponsorship of legislation or candidates, and participating in a tenants’ union or organization.
The chart below lists those states that provide anti-retaliation protection for their tenants (a few cities, notably those with rent control, also provide protections).
For details on these states’ laws, and how tenants can recoup fees, costs, and stop rent hikes, see Every Tenant’s Legal Guide, by Janet Portman and Marcia Stewart (Nolo). To learn about these laws from the landlord's perspective, see Every Landlord's Legal Guide, by Marcia Stewart, Ralph Warner, and Janet Portman (Nolo).
| States That Provide Anti-Retaliation Protection |
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To read these statutes, go to Nolo's State Research page and click on your state.
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State
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Statute
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Alabama
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Ala. Code § 35-9A-501
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Alaska
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Alaska Stat. § 34.03.310
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Arizona
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Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 33-1381
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Arkansas
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Ark. Code Ann. § 20-27-608
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California
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.51
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Colorado
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No statute
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Connecticut
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Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-20, 47a-33
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Delaware
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Del. Code Ann. tit. 25, § 5516
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District of Columbia
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D.C. Code § 42-3505.02
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Florida
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Fla. Stat. Ann. § 83.64
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Georgia
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No statute
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Hawaii
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Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-74
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Idaho
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No statute
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Illinois
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765 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 720/1
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Indiana
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No statute
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Iowa
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Iowa Code Ann. § 562A.36
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Kansas
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Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2572
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Kentucky
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Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 383.705
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Louisiana
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No statute
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Maine
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4 Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 6001(3)(4)
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Maryland
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Md. Code Ann. [Real Prop.] § 8-208.1 1
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Massachusetts
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Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 239, § 2A; ch. 186, § 18
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Michigan
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Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5720
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Minnesota
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Minn. Stat. Ann. §§ 504B.441, 504B.285
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Mississippi
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Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-17
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Missouri
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No statute
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Montana
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Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-431
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Nebraska
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Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439
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Nevada
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Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 118A.510
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New Hampshire
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N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:13-a, 540:13-b
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New Jersey
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N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 2A:42-10.10, 2A:42-10.12 2
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New Mexico
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N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-8-39
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New York
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N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 223-b
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North Carolina
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N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-37.1
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North Dakota
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No statute
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Ohio
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Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 5321.02
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Oklahoma
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No statute
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Oregon
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Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.385
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Pennsylvania
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68 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. §§ 250.205, 399.11
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Rhode Island
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R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. §§ 34-20-10, 34-20-11
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South Carolina
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S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910
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South Dakota
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S.D. Cod. Laws Ann. §§ 43-32-27, 43-32-28
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Tennessee
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Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-28-514, § 68-111-105
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Texas
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Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331
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Utah
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Building Monitoring Sys. v. Paxton,905 P.2d 1215 (Utah 1995)
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Vermont
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Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9, § 4465
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Virginia
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Va. Code Ann. § 55-248.39
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Washington
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Wash. Rev. Code §§ 59.18.240, 59.18.250
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West Virginia
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Imperial Colliery Co. v. Fout, 373 S.E.2d 489 (1988)
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Wisconsin
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Wis. Stat. § 704.45
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Wyoming
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No statute
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