Rent Cap Ledger

Washington, DC · District law

What's the maximum rent increase in Washington, DC for May 2026 – April 2027?

4.1%

Official figure · checked Oct 17, 2026

For rent-controlled units in Washington, DC, the maximum standard increase is 4.1% from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, or 2.1% for registered elderly or disabled tenants.

In effect
May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027
Next change
May 1, 2027
Set by
DC Rental Housing Commission; Rental Accommodations Division (DHCD) · District law
Last checked
October 17, 2026

Where 4.1% sits

4.1% for most rent-controlled units in Rent Control Year 2026. 2.1% if the tenant is 62+ or has a disability and has registered that status.

  • Most tenants (CPI-W + 2%)4.1%
  • Registered elderly (62+) or disabled tenant2.1%

Recent changes

What changed in Washington, DC

All rent cap news →

§ 1 · The formula

How the Washington, DC cap is calculated

CPI-W + 2% (max 10%); elderly/disabled: lowest of CPI-W, COLA, 5%

CPI-W for the Washington area + 2%, or 10%, whichever is less. For registered elderly and disabled tenants: the least of CPI-W, the Social Security COLA, or 5%. For 2026, CPI-W rose 2.1% (average index 310.091 in 2024 to 316.682 in 2025, BLS series CWURS35ASA0) and the COLA was 2.8%.

Law: Rental Housing Act of 1985 (rent stabilization).

§ 2 · Coverage

Who it covers, and who's exempt

Covered

  • Non-exempt rental units in the District; every unit must be registered as covered or exempt in the RentRegistry

Main exemptions & conditions

  • Federally or District-subsidized units
  • Units built after 1975
  • Units owned by a natural person (not a corporation) who owns no more than four rental units in DC
  • Units vacant when the Act took effect

§ 3 · Timing

Notice, and when it changes next

Notice: Increases must be filed in the RentRegistry (required for increases effective on or after December 1, 2025).

Next change: The RHC publishes the Rent Control Year 2027 figures in early 2027 (the 2026 notice came out on February 2, 2026). They take effect May 1, 2027.

§ 4 · Sources

Official sources

  1. DC Rental Housing Commission · headline figure Certification and Notice of Rent Adjustment of General Applicability (effective May 1, 2026) ↗
    “In general, a tenant’s rent may not go up by more than 4.1% this year, unless the housing provider has special approval.”
    Last checked October 17, 2026 · rhc.dc.gov
  2. DC Office of the Tenant Advocate · elderly/disability figure RHC Publishes New Rent Increase Caps ↗
    “the maximum standard rent increase for Rent Control Year 2026 will be 2.1%”
    Last checked October 17, 2026 · ota.dc.gov
  3. DC Department of Housing and Community Development · exemptions Rent Control ↗
    “Built after 1975”
    Last checked October 17, 2026 · dhcd.dc.gov
  4. Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library) · notice D.C. Code § 42–3509.04 (service; when an increase takes effect) ↗
    “shall be effective until the first day on which rent is normally paid occurring more than 60 calendar days after the notice of the increase is given to the tenant”
    Last checked October 18, 2026 · code.dccouncil.gov

See something out of date? The methodology page explains how we check figures.

§ 5 · Questions

Frequently asked

What is the maximum rent increase in Washington, DC for May 2026 – April 2027?

For rent-controlled units in Washington, DC, the maximum standard increase is 4.1% from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, or 2.1% for registered elderly or disabled tenants.

How is the Washington, DC rent cap calculated?

CPI-W for the Washington area + 2%, or 10%, whichever is less. For registered elderly and disabled tenants: the least of CPI-W, the Social Security COLA, or 5%. For 2026, CPI-W rose 2.1% (average index 310.091 in 2024 to 316.682 in 2025, BLS series CWURS35ASA0) and the COLA was 2.8%.

Which rentals are exempt from the Washington, DC cap?

Federally or District-subsidized units. Units built after 1975. Units owned by a natural person (not a corporation) who owns no more than four rental units in DC.

When does the Washington, DC rent cap change next?

The RHC publishes the Rent Control Year 2027 figures in early 2027 (the 2026 notice came out on February 2, 2026). They take effect May 1, 2027.

Where does this Washington, DC figure come from?

From DC Rental Housing Commission: “Certification and Notice of Rent Adjustment of General Applicability (effective May 1, 2026)”, which we last checked on October 17, 2026. Always confirm with the agency before relying on it.

Elsewhere

Other jurisdictions