State Laws Protecting Tenants in Domestic Violence Situations

Many states extend special protections, such as early lease termination rights or the right to have locks changed, to tenants who are victims of domestic violence (DV). Here is a summary of and citations for relevant state laws.

By , Attorney · UC Berkeley School of Law

Many states extend special protections to tenants who are victims of domestic violence (DV), governing what the landlord can and cannot do in response to the situation. Most states also have procedures whereby tenants can obtain restraining orders against perpetrators; often the effect of these orders is to ban the perpetrator-tenant from the rental property (these laws are not cited in this chart). For information on obtaining restraining orders, contact local law enforcement.

Here is a list of citations for relevant state laws. To read your state laws, see the website maintained by the Cornell Legal Information Institute. For more information, check out Nolo's resources for victims of domestic violence, or contact local law enforcement or a battered women's shelter.

State Laws on Protections for Tenants Who Are Victims of Domestic Violence

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Alabama

No statute

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Alaska

No statute

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Arizona

Statute(s): Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 33-1315, 33-1318, 33-1414

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    Arkansas

    Statute(s): Ark. Code § 18-16-112

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    California

    Statute(s): Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1941.5, 1941.6, 1946.7; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1161, 1161.3, 1174.27; Cal. Gov't Code § 53165.1

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      Colorado

      Statute(s): Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-40-104 (4), 13-40-107.5 (5), 38-12-401, 38-12-402, 38-12-503

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        Connecticut

        Statute(s): Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11e

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        Delaware

        Statute(s): Del. Code tit. 25, §§ 5141(7), 5314(b), 5316

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        District of Columbia

        Statute(s): D.C. Code §§ 2-1401.02, 2-1402.21, 42-3505.07, 42-3505.08

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          Florida

          No statute

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          Georgia

          Statute(s): Ga. Code § 44-7-23

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            Hawaii

            Statute(s): Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 521-80 to 521-82

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              Idaho

              No statute

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              Illinois

              Statute(s): 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/9-106.2; 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 750/1 through 750/35

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                Indiana

                Statute(s): Ind. Code §§ 32-31-9-1 through 32-31-9-15

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                Iowa

                Statute(s): Iowa Code §§ 562A.27A, 562A.27B, 562B.25A(3)

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                  Kansas

                  Statute(s): Kan. Stat. § 58-25,137

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                    Kentucky

                    Statute(s): Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 383.300, 383.302

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                    Louisiana

                    Statute(s): La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3261.1 (domestic violence); La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3261.2 (sexual assault)

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                      Maine

                      Statute(s): Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6000, 6001, 6002, 6025

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                        Maryland

                        Statute(s): Md. Code Real Prop., §§ 8-208, 8-208.1; 8-5A-01 through 8-5A-06; 14-126

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                        Massachusetts

                        Statute(s): Mass Gen. Laws ch. 186, §§ 24, 25, 26, and 28; ch. 239, § 2A

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                        Michigan

                        Statute(s): Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.601b

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                        Minnesota

                        Statute(s): Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.171, 504B.205, 504B.206

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                          Mississippi

                          No statute

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                          Missouri

                          Statute(s): Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.920

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                            Montana

                            No statute

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                            Nebraska

                            Statute(s): Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1431; 76-1431.01

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                              Nevada

                              Statute(s): Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 118A.345, 118A.347, 118A.510

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                                New Hampshire

                                Statute(s): N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540:2.VII

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                                New Jersey

                                Statute(s): N.J. Stat. §§ 46:8-9.5 through 46:8-9.12

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                                  New Mexico

                                  Statute(s): N.M. Stat. § 47-8-33(J)

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                                  New York

                                  Statute(s): N.Y. Real Prop. Law §§ 227-c(2) and 227–d; N.Y. Real Prop. Acts. Law § 744; N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 530.13(1); N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240(3); N.Y. Exec. Law § 296

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                                    North Carolina

                                    Statute(s): N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-40, 42-42.2, 42-42.3, 42-45.1

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                                    North Dakota

                                    Statute(s): N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-17.1

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                                      Ohio

                                      No statute

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                                      Oklahoma

                                      Statute(s): Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 113.3

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                                        Oregon

                                        Statute(s): Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 90.449, 90.453, 90.456, 90.459

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                                        Pennsylvania

                                        Statute(s): 53 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 304; 246 Pa. Code Rule 514.1

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                                          Rhode Island

                                          Statute(s): R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-37-1 through 34-37-4

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                                          South Carolina

                                          No statute

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                                          South Dakota

                                          Statute(s): S.D. Codified Laws §§ 43-32-18.1, 43-32-19.1

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                                            Tennessee

                                            Statute(s): Tenn. Code §§ 66-7-109(e), 66-7-112, 66-28-205, 66-28-517(g)

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                                              Texas

                                              Statute(s): Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.015, 92.016, 92.0161

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                                                Utah

                                                Statute(s): Utah Code § 57-22-5.1

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                                                  Vermont

                                                  Statute(s): 15 Vt. Stat. § 1103(c)(2)(B); 9 Vt. Stat. §§ 4471 through 4475

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                                                    Virginia

                                                    Statute(s): Va. Code §§ 55.1-1203, 55.1-1208, 55.1-1230, 55.1-1236

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                                                    Washington

                                                    Statute(s): Wash. Rev. Code §§ 59.18.130(8)(b)(ii), 59.18.352, 59.18.570, 59.18.575, 59.18.580, 59.18.585

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                                                    West Virginia

                                                    No statute

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                                                    Wisconsin

                                                    Statute(s): Wis. Stat. §§ 106.50, 704.14, 704.16

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                                                    Wyoming

                                                    Statute(s): Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1301 to 1-21-1304

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                                                    Updated: January 6, 2023

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