District of Columbia Rent Control Act of 1973
Public Law 93-157 · H.R. 4771 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Nov 21, 1973 · Housing and Community Development
Sponsor: Rep. Walter Fauntroy (D-DC)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
District of Columbia Rent Control Act - Authorizes the District of Columbia Council to adopt rules regulating rents if public hearings show that a shortage of leased or rental housing is causing overcrowding or increasing rents. States that any rules so adopted shall provide means whereby increased costs incurred by landlords shall be taken into consideration in determing the amount of rents or benefits which landlords are entitled to receive in connection with use or occupancy under the rules.
Authorizes the Council to establish a temporary District of Columbia Housing Rent Commission to carry out such rules.
Empowers the Commission to: (1) adopt, promulgate, amend, or rescind such rules as it deems necessary to effectuate this Act; (2) receive and review complaints by tenants with respect to violations of the rules of the Council or the Commission; and (3) grant, upon a hearing, exemptions from the rules to landlords when a serious financial hardship would be caused. Empowers the Chairman to hold such hearings, administer oaths, and require by subpena attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of records, and documents as the Commission deems advisable in carrying out its functions under this Act. Provides that in the case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpena the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, at the request of the Chairman of the Commission, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear before the Commission. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums, not to exceed $85,000, as may be necessary to carry out these provisions.
Prohibits any retalitory action by landlords against tenants who exercise rights conferred by this Act or by any rule issued under this Act.
Provides for judicial review of Commission decisions and for a fine of $5000 for violations of this Act or Commission or Council rules.
Provides for the termination of the provisions of this Act, and all rules under it, one year after their dates of enactment.
Directs the Council, on the expiration of six-month period following the effective date of rules adopted pursuant to this Act, to conduct a hearing to determine whether such rules should be modified or terminated.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
District of Columbia Committee · House · referred to, reported by
District of Columbia Committee · Senate · referred to, reported by
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 11 actions.
- Nov 21, 1973Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-157.
- Nov 13, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Nov 8, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Sep 7, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Sep 5, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate District of Columbia Committee
- Jun 12, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate District of Columbia Committee
- Jun 11, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #206 (210-144).House roll call 206
- Jun 5, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House District of Columbia Committee
- Feb 27, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House District of Columbia Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.