Chart: State-by-State Anti-Retaliation Statutes
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed September 07, 2018
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and attorneys and in accordance with our editorial standards.
The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area.
It is illegal in most states for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant for exercising a legal right. Many statutes, for instance, prohibit a landlord from increasing a tenant's rent or evicting a tenant as retaliation. Anti-retaliation statutes protect a renter's legal right to do the following:
- File a complaint with a government agency or with the landlord about conditions related to the health or safety of the rental unit
- File a complaint with a government agency or file a lawsuit about discriminatory housing practices
- Participate in political or union activity
Below is a list of states with anti-retaliation statutes.
State |
Statute |
Alabama |
|
Alaska |
|
Arizona |
|
Arkansas |
|
California |
|
Colorado |
No statute |
Connecticut |
|
Delaware |
|
District of Columbia |
|
Florida |
|
Georgia |
No statute |
Hawaii |
|
Idaho |
No statute |
Illinois |
|
Indiana |
|
Iowa |
|
Kansas |
|
Kentucky |
|
Louisiana |
No statute |
Maine |
|
Maryland |
|
Massachusetts |
|
Michigan |
|
Minnesota |
|
Mississippi |
|
Missouri |
No statute |
Montana |
|
Nebraska |
|
Nevada |
|
New Hampshire |
|
New Jersey |
|
New Mexico |
|
New York |
|
North Carolina |
|
North Dakota |
No statute |
Ohio |
|
Oklahoma |
No statute |
Oregon |
|
Pennsylvania |
|
Rhode Island |
|
South Carolina |
|
South Dakota |
|
Tennessee |
|
Texas |
|
Utah |
Building Monitoring Sys. v. Paxton,905 P.2d 1215 (Utah 1995), see also Utah Renter's Handbook |
Vermont |
|
Virginia |
|
Washington |
Wash. Rev. Code 59.18.240, 59.18.250 |
West Virginia |
Imperial Colliery Co. v. Fout, 373 S.E.2d 489 (1988) |
Wisconsin |
|
Wyoming |
No statute |
State Anti-Retaliation Statutes: Related Resources
State statutes often get confusing. If you or someone you know is facing a housing discrimination situation, you can do additional research by clicking on the links below. If you need further assistance, you should always contact a local attorney to know your rights.
- Fair Housing Laws: Renters' Protection from Sexual Orientation Discrimination
- Fair Housing: U.S. Supreme Court Cases
- Understanding Your Rights: Housing Discrimination
Learn More About Your State's Anti-Retaliation Statute: Call an Attorney
Depending on which state you're in, landlords may be held liable for retaliating against their tenants. This includes any adverse actions taken against protected individuals (racial minorities, the disabled, etc.). If you believe your landlord has retaliated against you, consider speaking with a landlord-tenant law attorney near you.
Was this helpful?
Next Steps
Contact a qualified real estate attorney to help you navigate any landlord-tenant issues.