Cambridge MA algorithmic rent-setting ban (policy order, Jun. 2026)
Cambridge, MA Policy Order Directing Draft Ordinance Banning Algorithmic Rent-Setting (Proposed 2026)
Cambridge, MA · Cambridge, MA City Council unanimous policy order (late June 2026) directing draft ordinance banning algorithmic rent-setting (Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Landlords and property managers operating in Cambridge, MA; rent-setting software vendors (upon enactment of the directed ordinance)
- Enforced by
- City of Cambridge, MA (mechanism to be defined in the drafted ordinance)
The Cambridge, Massachusetts City Council voted unanimously in late June 2026 on a policy order directing city staff to draft an ordinance banning algorithmic rent-setting — software (such as RealPage-style tools) that landlords use to coordinate and set rents. The order, led by Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, follows municipal bans in Berkeley, CA and Providence, RI. A policy order directs drafting; the ban itself is not yet law, so this is indexed as proposed until an ordinance is drafted and enacted.
Who is protected: Cambridge, MA renters (if the directed ordinance is enacted, landlords could not use algorithmic rent-setting software to set or coordinate rents)
Legal detail
Cambridge (MA) City Council unanimous policy order directing preparation of an ordinance prohibiting algorithmic rent-setting software; lead sponsor Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler; cited precedents include Berkeley (CA) and Providence (RI) ordinances. Vote date recorded as June 22, 2026 per the council's Monday-meeting convention — coverage (Cambridge Day, June 25) is consistent with either June 22 or a 'June 24' reading; ambiguity noted. Ordinance text not yet drafted; status 'proposed' with review_by 2026-09-19.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | Cambridge, MA City Council unanimous policy order (late June 2026) directing draft ordinance banning algorithmic rent-setting (Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler) |
| Topics | housing and credit decisions · automated decision-making · consumer protection |
| News report | Council examines Airbnb, rental algorithms — Cambridge Day |
More AI rules in Cambridge, MA
Related housing and credit decisions rules elsewhere
- Connecticut algorithmic rent ban — HB 8002 (eff. Jan 1, 2026) · In effect
- San Diego algorithmic rent price-fixing ban (Ord. O-21955, May 2025) · In effect
- Minneapolis algorithmic rent ban (Ord. 2025-010, eff. Mar 1, 2026) · In effect
- Seattle algorithmic rent-fixing ban (Ord. 127241 / SMC 7.34, July 2025) · In effect
- NJ Forbidding the Algorithmic Inflation of Rent (FAIR) Act · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Hoboken Algorithmic Rent-Fixing Ban · In effect
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