| State | Guides |
|---|---|
| California | |
| Colorado | |
| Florida | |
| Illinois | |
| Massachusetts | |
| Minnesota | |
| New Jersey | |
| New York | |
| Texas | |
| Washington | |
| Federal rules |
Tenant screening laws by state
The short answer from each of our legal guides, state by state. Every guide links the official sources it relies on and says when we last checked them.
We are not lawyers. Each summary on this page comes from its guide, which links the official sources and gives the date we last checked them. Rules change, so check those sources or ask a lawyer before you act.
States covered
Check one state
Pick a state to see its short answer, common questions and official sources in one place.
California
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in California? (2026)
On a first call, ask about the unit: move-in date, number of occupants, pets, budget and your written criteria. Never ask about protected traits such as race, disability, familial status or immigration status. Screening fees are capped at actual cost up to a CPI-adjusted $30, most deposits at one month's rent, and criminal history comes last.
Updated September 23, 2026
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Colorado
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Colorado? (2026)
In Colorado, a first call can cover the unit, move-in date, occupants and whether income reaches twice the rent, but never immigration status or protected traits. Income requirements are capped at 200% of rent, application fees at your actual costs, deposits at two months' rent, and arrests or convictions over five years old are mostly off limits.
Updated September 23, 2026
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Florida
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Florida? (2026)
Florida protects the federal classes, so a first call should cover the unit: move-in date, occupants, pets, rent range and your criteria. State law sets no cap on application fees or security deposits and preempts local rules on screening, fees and deposits, but Miami-Dade, Broward and unincorporated Orange County list source of income as protected.
Updated October 5, 2026
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Illinois
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Illinois? (2026)
In Illinois, a first call can cover the unit, move-in date, occupants and income, but not arrest records, protected traits or, unless a law requires it, immigration status. Every lawful income source counts, and income tests use only the tenant's share of rent. In Cook County, criminal history waits until prequalification, and only convictions from the last three years count.
Updated October 5, 2026
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Massachusetts
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Massachusetts? (2026)
In Massachusetts, ask about the unit, move-in date, occupants and pets, never protected traits, and never refuse someone for receiving rental assistance. Before a tenancy starts you may require only first and last month's rent, a security deposit up to the first month's rent and the cost of a lock and key, which leaves no room for an application fee.
Updated October 5, 2026
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Minnesota
Minnesota Tenant Screening Laws for Landlords (2026)
Minnesota sets no dollar cap on screening fees. Before taking one, you must disclose in writing your screening company and rental criteria. You must give a receipt and return any amount not used for screening. You must tell a rejected applicant within 14 days which criteria they failed, and since 2025 you may not deny for a pending eviction.
Updated October 15, 2026
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New Jersey
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in New Jersey? (2026)
In New Jersey, a first call can cover the unit, move-in date, occupants and income, but never criminal history, which may be reviewed only after a conditional offer. Application fees are capped at $50 from May 1, 2026 for most rentals, deposits at one and a half months' rent, and income tests must use only the tenant's share of rent.
Updated September 23, 2026
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New York
New York Tenant Screening Laws for Landlords (2026)
You may ask every prospect about move-in date, occupants, pets and income, including its source, but not about protected traits such as citizenship, marital status, children or disability. Saying vouchers are not accepted is a violation. Outside co-ops, application fees are banned except a background or credit check fee of $20 or actual cost, whichever is less.
Updated October 15, 2026
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Texas
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Texas? (2026)
Texas protects the same classes as the federal Fair Housing Act, so a first call should stick to the unit: move-in date, occupants, pets and your criteria. Texas sets no dollar cap on application fees or security deposits, but you must give printed tenant selection criteria with the application or refund the fee if you reject the applicant.
Updated September 23, 2026
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Washington
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Washington? (2026)
In Washington, a first call can cover the unit, move-in date, occupants and income, but not protected traits such as citizenship or immigration status, and voucher holders are protected. Before screening, give written notice of what you check and your denial criteria; screening charges are limited to costs. Seattle bars adverse action over criminal history, except some registry information.
Updated October 5, 2026
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Federal rules
How Do You Text Rental Prospects Legally? 10DLC and TCPA Rules (2026)
Register your texting number first: business texts from unregistered US local numbers are blocked, replies included. Twilio estimates approval at under a week and lists $4.50 per brand, $15 per campaign vetting and $1.50 to $10 a month. Under FCC rules, keep replies to what was asked, get written consent for marketing, and honor STOP within 10 business days.
Updated October 5, 2026
Read the guideShould an AI Leasing Agent Say It Is an AI? US Disclosure Rules (2026)
Yes. California's BOT Act bars online bots that mislead people about being artificial to drive a sale, and disclosure is a defense. Colorado will require notice from 2027 when AI materially influences housing decisions, outbound AI voice calls need consent under FCC rules, and the FTC says there is no AI exemption. Disclose at the start.
Updated October 5, 2026
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