Key takeaways
- Federal law is a floor, mainly around discrimination and consumer protection.
- State law supplies the main landlord–tenant rules.
- Cities and leases can add duties. They rarely subtract federal civil rights.
Do this today
- Search your state for the official chapter.
- Keep the lease next to the notice.
- If a court is named, call legal aid the same day.
What this page is not
- Not a national statute we wrote.
- Not a replacement for the official chapter.
- Not legal advice.
Confirm it locally
Caps, clocks, and entry hours live in your state chapter. Search below, or take the paper to legal aid if a court is named.
Terms on this page
People also ask
- Who do I call in NYC — 311, HPD, HCR, or Housing Court?
- Stay Housed LA, LAHD, or Housing Rights Center?
- Stay Housed LA, LAHD, or Housing Rights Center — who do I call?
- Should I treat LAHD’s COVID emergency ordinances as current?
- Is Phoenix different from Arizona state law?
- What does Philadelphia add on top of Pennsylvania law?
Official sources
- LawHelp.orgFree legal aid by state. Start here for court papers.
- HUD tenant rightsFederal floor and state HUD pages.
- Cornell LII landlord-tenant tableIndex of official state chapters. We name the chapter; we do not paraphrase a number out of it.
- 211Local rent, shelter, food, and utilities, in many languages.
Cluster: Rights
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org