List of State Anti-price Gouging Laws

Michael Giberson

Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have anti-price gouging laws

In the wake of “Superstorm Sandy” there has been a lot of writing on price gouging. Constantine von Hoffman, CBS Moneywatch, said in his column that only seven of 13 states struck by the storm had laws against price gouging, but he linked to a 2006 survey that is out of date. By my review, every state east of the Mississippi River has a law against price gouging except for Maryland, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Ohio. Nationwide, I count 34 states and the District of Columbia as having anti-price gouging laws.

Here is my current list of states with anti-price gouging laws, noting the date of the initial price gouging law, reference, and occasionally a link to the law or an added note. At the end of the table is a list of resources I’ve used to compile this list (which have been supplemented by some good old-fashioned Google searching). I’ve exercised some care in assembling this list, but there may be errors. Please let me know if you discover one.

List of State Anti-Price Gouging Laws

State

Year

Notes

Alabama

1996

Code of Ala. § 8-31-1 thru § 8-31-6. LINK Alabama law; Any commodity or rental facility.

Arkansas

1997

A.C.A. § 4-88-301 – 4-88-305.

California

1994

Cal. Pen. Code § 396.

Connecticut

1986

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-230.

District of Columbia

2007

D.C. Code § 28-4101 thru 28-4102.

Florida

1992

Fla. Stat. § 501.160.

Georgia

1995

O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.4.

Hawaii

1983

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 209-9

Idaho

2002

Idaho Code § 48-603; Food, fuel, pharmaceuticals, water.

Illinois

2005

Ill. Admin. Code tit. 14, §§ 465.10 thru 465.30.

Indiana

2002

Ind. Code §§ 4-6-9.1-1 thru 4-6-9.1-7; Fuel.

Iowa

1993

61 IAC 31.1(714); Merchandise needed by victims of disasters.

Kansas

2002

K.S.A. § 50-6,106; Any necessary property or service.

Kentucky

2004

Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann.  § 367.374.

Louisiana

1993

La. R.S. 29:732 LINK Louisiana law.

Maine

2006

10 M.R.S.A. § 1105.

Massachusetts

1990

Md. Reg. Code tit. 940, § 3.18; Petroleum products only.

Michigan

*

Mich. Stat. Ann. § 445.903(1)(z); General consumer code provisions not limited to emergencies.

Mississippi

1986

Miss. Code Ann. § 75-24-25(2).

Missouri

1994

15 CSR § 60-8.030; Necessities.

New Jersey

2001

N.J.S.A. §§ 56:8-107 to 8:109; LINK New Jersey law; Necessities.

New York

1979

NY Gen Bus §396-r.

North Carolina

2003

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-38; LINK North Carolina law.

Oklahoma

1999

15 OK St. §§ 777.1 thru 777.5.

Oregon

2007

ORS 401.960 thru 401.970; LINK Oregon law; Essential consumer goods and services.

Pennsylvania

2006

Link Pennsylvania law.

Rhode Island

2012

Rhode Island General Laws §30-15-19; Essential commodities including home heating fuels, motor fuels, food and water.

South Carolina

2002

SC Code 39-5-145.

Tennessee

2002

TCA Title 47 Chapter 18 Part 51; LINK Tennesee Law.

Texas

1995

Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann. § 17.46(b)(27) LINK Texas law; Necessities.

Utah

2005

Utah Code § 13-41-101 thru 13-41-202. Link Utah law; Retail goods and services.

Vermont

2006

9 V.S.A. § 2461d; LINK Vermont law; Petroleum or heating fuel product only.

Virginia

2004

Va. Code §§ 59.1-525 et seq., LINK Virginia law; Any necessary goods and services.

West Virginia

2002

W.V. Code § 46A-6J-1

Wisconsin

2006

Wisc. ATCP Ch. 106; Link Wisconsin law.

List updated November 3, 2012 by Michael Giberson.
Please see list of resources below for useful links on price gouging. (https://knowledgeproblem.com/2012/11/03/list-of-price-gouging-laws/

Resources on price gouging law

UPDATE: Here is a graphic presentation. States in blue have laws against price gouging, states in gold do not have laws against price gouging.

STATES_W_APGL_2012_NOV

2 thoughts on “List of State Anti-price Gouging Laws”

  1. Andrew_M_Garland

    Politicians are using the time-honored way to lower prices. Instead of gas prices rising by 50%, people can buy on alternate days.

    But wait. We don’t need an emergency to benefit from this policy. States should decree that gas prices be 30% less, and we can buy gas on alternate days. The savings to the public would be tremendous, and an economic boom would follow. Yes?

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