Cal. Civ. Code § 44-7-19
Restrictions on rent regulation by local governments.
Operative Text
No county or municipal corporation may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which would regulate in any way the amount of rent to be charged for privately owned, single-family or multiple-unit residential rental property. This Code section shall not be construed as prohibiting any county or municipal corporation, or any authority created by a county or municipal corporation for that purpose, from regulating in any way property belonging to such county, such municipal corporation, or such authority from entering into any agreements with private persons, which agreements regulate the amount of rent to be charged for such rental properties.
O.C.G.A. § 44-7-19 establishes a statewide preemption of local rent control in Georgia, meaning no county or city government is permitted to pass or enforce rules that set or limit the rent a private landlord may charge for residential rental property, whether single-family homes or multi-unit buildings. The prohibition applies to privately owned property only; local governments retain the ability to regulate rents on property they themselves own or manage. Local governments may also enter into voluntary agreements with private parties that include rent restrictions, such as affordable-housing covenants tied to public financing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-19, private residential landlords in Georgia are not subject to any local rent control ordinance or resolution, so no county or city may cap or otherwise regulate the rents they charge on privately owned units. Operators who participate in government-assisted housing programs or accept public financing should be aware that voluntary contractual agreements with a local government or its authority may still impose rent restrictions as a condition of that participation. Compliant operators generally review any financing or subsidy agreements carefully to understand whether rent commitments were voluntarily assumed under such arrangements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
O.C.G.A. § 44-7-19 means that, in Georgia, no city or county has the legal authority to enact rent control protections for tenants renting privately owned homes or apartments, so local rent-stabilization ordinances are not a remedy available under state law. Tenants living in publicly owned housing or in units tied to a government-assisted program may have different protections, since the preemption does not apply to government-owned property or voluntary rent agreements connected to public financing. Tenants seeking to understand their rights in those contexts may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the specific agreement or program terms that govern their unit.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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