Mayor Michelle Wu backs 2026 Massachusetts rent-control ballot proposal as signature drive and court fight advance

Wu signals support as statewide initiative moves through the ballot process

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said she would support a proposed 2026 Massachusetts ballot measure that would reinstate rent control statewide, marking her first public endorsement of the initiative as it advances through the state’s multi-step petition process.

The proposal, titled “An Initiative Petition to Protect Tenants by Limiting Rent Increases,” would cap annual rent increases for most rental units at the lower of the Consumer Price Index or 5% per year. The initiative includes exemptions for owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units and for newly constructed buildings during their first 10 years.

What the measure would do

If approved by voters, the law would apply across Massachusetts rather than allowing cities and towns to opt in. Rent control has been banned statewide since a 1994 ballot question eliminated it.

• Annual rent increases: limited to CPI or 5%, whichever is lower.
• Key exemptions: owner-occupied properties with four or fewer units; buildings in their first 10 years after construction.
• Scope: statewide coverage for most rental housing, rather than municipal-by-municipal adoption.

How the measure reached the 2026 track

State elections officials certified that the petition cleared the initial signature threshold required to continue toward the November 2026 ballot. Under Massachusetts procedure, the initiative now proceeds to the Legislature, which can enact it, offer a substitute, or decline to act. If lawmakers do not enact the measure by the first Wednesday in May 2026, supporters must collect an additional round of signatures to keep it on the ballot path for November.

Boston’s parallel effort: local rent stabilization request remains pending

Wu’s endorsement comes against the backdrop of Boston’s separate push for local authority to regulate rents. In March 2022, Wu convened a rent stabilization advisory committee to study policy options. In early 2023, she submitted a home rule petition to the Boston City Council; the Council approved it on March 8, 2023, and the request was sent to the Massachusetts Legislature. Legislative tracking shows the Boston home rule petition was ultimately sent to a study order in September 2024, leaving Boston without new rent stabilization authority under that route.

Political stakes: divided leadership and a growing legal contest

Wu’s support positions Boston’s mayor on one side of an emerging statewide debate. Gov. Maura Healey has said she would oppose the rent control ballot question, citing concerns about housing production. Real estate industry groups have also prepared for a major campaign against the initiative and have pursued legal challenges to its placement on the ballot.

The 2026 question is shaping up to be a high-cost, high-salience contest, as supporters seek tenant protections amid rising housing costs and opponents argue the policy could discourage development.

Next deadlines to watch

The measure’s immediate next steps include legislative consideration during the 2026 session and, if no enactment occurs by early May, a final signature-gathering phase required to secure placement on the November 2026 ballot.