Rent control laws limit the amount a landlord can increase rents on existing tenants. Most states have laws that prohibit local governments from enacting rent control measures. But over 180 municipalities in the United States have rent control measures—and all of them are located in California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C.
The state of Oregon has a statewide rent control law that limits annual rent increases to 7% plus the increase in the consumer price index.
Montana does not have rent control laws, and the state preempts local governments from enacting any form of rent control. According to Montana state law, specifically Montana Code Annotated § 70-24-303, local governmental units are not permitted to control the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property. This means that landlords in Montana are generally free to set and increase rents as they see fit, subject to any contractual agreements they may have with their tenants. Unlike Oregon, which has a statewide rent control policy limiting annual rent increases, Montana has no such regulations, and rent increases are subject to market forces.