Late fee checker
Check if your late fee is legal, and when it can start, in your state
I rent in . Rent is $, and the late fee is $.
Your late fee
8.3%
$150.00 on $1,800.00 rent
Pick your state to check it
General info, not legal advice. Rules change; check your lease and your state.
Educational information, not legal advice - figures are general and laws change. How we keep this accurate & where to verify → · Spot an error? Tell us →
Rent's due on the 1st. Your paycheck lands on the 3rd. It happens.
On the 2nd, a $100 late fee. Then $25 more every day. By the time you pay, it's $175.
You pay it, because you were late. It feels like your fault.
But lots of states have rules: a grace period, a cap, or a plain “be reasonable.” Sometimes it's the fee that breaks the rules.
Late happens. Overcharging shouldn't.
Where there are rules
| State | Grace | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 7 days | greater of $50 or 5% |
| Connecticut | 9 days | reasonable |
| Delaware | 5 days | 5% of rent |
| District of Columbia | 5 days | 5% of rent |
| Iowa | – | $100 |
| Maine | 15 days | 4% of rent |
| Maryland | – | 5% of rent |
| Massachusetts | 30 days | reasonable |
| Nevada | – | 5% of rent |
| New Mexico | – | 10% of rent |
| New York | 5 days | lesser of $50 or 5% |
| North Carolina | 5 days | greater of $15 or 5% |
| Oregon | 4 days | reasonable |
| Tennessee | 5 days | 10% of rent |
| Texas | 2 days | 10% of rent |
| Virginia | – | 10% of rent |
| Washington | 5 days | reasonable |
Everywhere else: no set number, but fees must be reasonable
Three moves
- 1
Check the lease
A fee that isn't written into your lease usually can't be charged.
- 2
Pay the rent, question the fee
Keep the rent current. Dispute the fee separately, in writing.
- 3
Point to the rule
Name the grace period or cap for your state, and ask for a correction.
More on your rights: Tenant rights by state →
Good to know
How much can a landlord charge?+
Depends on your state. Some cap it by percent or dollars. Where there's no cap, it still has to be reasonable.
Is there a grace period?+
In some states, yes, often 3 to 5 days. Elsewhere, your lease decides.
Can they charge a fee that's not in my lease?+
Generally no. If it isn't written in, you have a strong case against paying it.
Can daily fees stack up forever?+
That's where courts push back. A fee that snowballs past a reasonable amount looks like a penalty.