Most landlords charge late fees if a tenant doesn’t provide their rent payment in a timely fashion. Usually, late rent fees are designed to incentivize on-time payment while also compensating the landlord for any hardships they experience when a tenant doesn’t pay by the due date.
Depending on where you live, state laws may set limits on your maximum late fees. This provides tenants with a degree of protection, ensuring that landlords aren’t charging an unreasonable amount.
However, not all states have hard-and-fast numbers. Some may simply require that the landlord include the late rent fee amount in the lease. Other states have mandates stating that late rent fees have to be “reasonable,” though they don’t necessarily define what “reasonable” means.
If you’re curious about late rent fees in your state, including what the limits are, if any are in place, here’s what you need to know.
Late Rent Fees by State
| State | Maximum Late Fee | Grace Period |
| Alabama | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| Alaska | No limit, but must be agreed upon, such as by being listed in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Arizona | Must be reasonable and in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Arkansas | No limit, but must be in the lease | 5 days |
| California | Must be reasonable and in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Colorado | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Connecticut | Must be reasonable and in the lease | 9 days |
| Delaware | 5 % of the rent amount | No state-mandated grace period |
| District of Columbia | 5 % of the rent amount | 5 days |
| Florida | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Georgia | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Hawaii | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Idaho | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Illinois | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| Indiana | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Iowa | $60 to $100, depending on the rent amount | No state-mandated grace period |
| Kansas | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| Kentucky | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Louisiana | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Maine | 4 % of the past due amount | 15 days |
| Maryland | 5 % of the amount owed | No state-mandated grace period |
| Massachusetts | No limit, but must be in the lease | 30 days for late fees, though evictions can begin immediately |
| Michigan | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Minnesota | 8 % of the rent amount | No state-mandated grace period |
| Mississippi | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Missouri | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| Montana | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| Nebraska | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Nevada | 5 % of the rent amount | No state-mandated grace period |
| New Hampshire | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| New Jersey | No laws outlining late fee size | 5 days (only for protected classes) |
| New Mexico | 10 % of the rent amount | No state-mandated grace period |
| New York | $50 or 5 % of rent amount, whichever is less | 5 days |
| North Carolina | $15 or 5 % of the rent, whichever is greater | 5 days |
| North Dakota | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Ohio | Must be reasonable and in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Oklahoma | Must be reasonable and in the lease | 5 days (14 days for public housing) |
| Oregon | 5 % of the rent amount | 4 days |
| Pennsylvania | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| Rhode Island | No laws outlining late fee size | 15 days |
| South Carolina | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| South Dakota | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| Tennessee | 10 % of the past due amount | 5 days |
| Texas | 12 % of the rent amount | 1 day |
| Utah | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| Vermont | No laws regarding late fees | No state-mandated grace period |
| Virginia | 10 % of the amount due | 5 days |
| Washington | Must be reasonable and in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| West Virginia | Must be reasonable and in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Wisconsin | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
| Wyoming | No limit, but must be in the lease | No state-mandated grace period |
It’s important to note that, like all laws, regulations around late rent fees can change over time. As a result, it is wise to stay vigilant, regularly checking to see if there is an update that may impact you moving forward.
