Housing Policy

California Bill Would Cap Rents During U.S.-Involved War

The war in Iran is causing California lawmakers to consider wider price controls.

Christian Britschgi | 8.25.2026 3:45 PM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google

Media Contact & Reprint Requests

(WalkingPenguin/Dreamstime)

Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Rent Free.

This week's stories include a look at a bill that would impose universal rent control over California anytime officials determine that an overseas conflict is raising housing prices.

Additionally, the newsletter covers housing and transportation policy advocate Charles Marohn's First Amendment victory over licensing officials who tried to fine him for referring to himself as an engineer.

War=Rent Control? 

Until the U.S. adopts Ron Paul's foreign policy, California landlords will have the threat of universal rent control hanging over their heads.

That would be the reality under legislation put forward by California state Sen. Josh Becker (D–Menlo Park) that adds war to the emergencies that can trigger the state's price-gouging law.

Rent Free Newsletter by Christian Britschgi. Get more of Christian's urban regulation, development, and zoning coverage.

Company

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Email(Required)

SUBSCRIBE

The state's current law forbids businesses from raising prices by more than 10 percent whenever the president, governor, or local government declares an emergency in response to fires, floods, riots, pandemics, etc.

Those price controls apply to a wide range of food items, emergency supplies, building materials, and rents and last for at least 30 days, but they can be extended indefinitely.

Becker's bill would allow the governor to declare a state of emergency triggering those price controls whenever Congress declares war, the U.S. is........

© Reason.com