Matthews, NC Rental Property Rules: Rent Control (2026)
Rent control rules in Matthews, NC, also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances, limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.
Key Facts
- Preemption
- NCGS 42-14.1
- Rent control
- Prohibited statewide since 1987
- Security deposit cap
- 2 months rent (NCGS 42-51)
- Late fee cap
- 15 dollars or 5 percent
- Governing act
- NCGS 42-42 RRAA
Summary
North Carolina prohibits local rent control under NCGS 42-14.1. Matthews cannot cap rental rates or impose rent stabilization. Landlord-tenant relations governed by the NC Residential Rental Agreements Act (NCGS 42-42).
§ 42-14.1. Preemption of local regulations.
(a) No county or city as defined by G.S. 160A-1 may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which regulates the amount of rent to be charged for privately owned, single-family or multiple unit residential or commercial rental property.
(b) No county or city as defined by G.S. 160A-1 may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which prohibits an owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee, managing agent, or other person having the right to lease, sublease, or rent a housing accommodation from refusing to lease or rent the housing accommodation to a person because the person's lawful source of income to pay rent includes funding from a federal housing assistance program.
(c) This section shall not be construed as prohibiting any county or city, or any authority created by a county or city for that purpose, from:
(1) Regulating in any way property belonging to that city, county, or authority.
(2) Entering into agreements with private persons which regulate the amount of rent charged for subsidized rental properties.
(3) Enacting ordinances or resolutions restricting rent for properties assisted with Community Development Block Grant Funds.
(4) Enacting ordinances or resolutions applicable to owners or operators that receive funding or financial incentives from the county or city.
Full Breakdown
North Carolina General Statute 42-14.1 expressly preempts local rent control ordinances, stating that no county or city may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution that regulates the amount of rent a private landlord may charge a private tenant. This preemption has been in effect since 1987 and makes rent control legally unavailable in Matthews and throughout North Carolina. Landlords and tenants are instead governed by the NC Residential Rental Agreements Act (NCGS 42-42) covering security deposits (NCGS 42-51, capped at 2 months rent for leases over 1 month), habitability standards, eviction procedures under summary ejectment (NCGS 42-26), and notice requirements (7 days for tenancy-at-will under NCGS 42-14). Late fees are capped at the greater of 15 dollars or 5 percent of monthly rent under NCGS 42-46.
Violations & Fines
Any local Matthews ordinance attempting to regulate rental rates would be void and unenforceable under NCGS 42-14.1. Landlord violations of NCGS 42-42 actionable through Mecklenburg County Small Claims Court or District Court.
Sources & Official References
- [1]NCGS 42-14.1
Other rules in Matthews
Compare Matthews to another location·View the North Carolina rental property rules overview
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Rent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle rent control.