Rent control rules in Albany, NY — also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances — limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.
Albany County is not covered by NYS Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA) rent stabilization — only NYC and Nassau, Rockland, Westchester, plus opt-in municipalities qualify. HSTPA 2019 applies statewide for tenant protections, but no rent caps in Albany County.
New York's rent stabilization laws — the Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 (ETPA) and Rent Stabilization Law — only apply in New York City and in Nassau, Rockland, and Westchester counties unless a municipality declares a housing emergency and opts in (Kingston did so in 2022). No Albany County municipality has opted into ETPA as of 2026, so there are no rent caps in the county. However, the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (HSTPA) applies statewide and provides significant tenant protections: security deposits capped at one month's rent (RPL §7-108), late fees capped at $50 or 5% of rent (RPL §238-a), and 30 to 90 days' notice required for rent increases over 5% based on tenancy length (RPL §226-c). The City of Albany has considered good-cause eviction legislation. Landlords must still follow RPL §235-b warranty of habitability.
Charging excess security deposit: tenant may recover 2x the overcharge plus attorney's fees (RPL §7-108). Improper late fees: refund required. Inadequate rent increase notice: increase is unenforceable until proper notice given.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Albany County.
See how Albany's rent control rules stack up against other locations.
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