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Late Fee Calculator by State

Know your state's late fee limits before you charge. Enter your rent amount, select your state, and instantly see the maximum allowable fee, grace period, and compliance status.

Calculator Inputs

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$

California Rules

Grace Period: 3 days
Max Fee Rule: No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
Notes: No statutory cap, but must be a "reasonable estimate of damages." Courts have struck down fees above 5–8% of rent.
N/A
Max Allowable Fee
$90.00
Your Planned Fee
3 days
Grace Period

Compliance Result

No Statutory Cap — Review Needed

California has no statutory cap

California doesn't set a specific maximum late fee. Your fee of $90.00must be "reasonable" — courts typically accept 5–10% of monthly rent. At your rent of $1,800.00, a reasonable range would be $90.00 – $180.00.

Monthly Rent
$1,800.00
Days Late
10 days
Fee as % of Rent
5.0%
State
California

Late Fee Rules by State

StateGrace PeriodMax Fee TypeMax FeeNotes
Alabama(AL)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; fees must be reasonable and stated in the lease.
Alaska(AK)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap or mandatory grace period; lease terms control.
Arizona(AZ)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; must be in the lease. Courts use a reasonableness standard (typically 5–10%).
Arkansas(AR)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
California(CA)3 daysReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap, but must be a "reasonable estimate of damages." Courts have struck down fees above 5–8% of rent.
Colorado(CO)7 daysFlat or %$90.00
$50 or 5% (whichever is greater)
Greater of $50 or 5% of rent. 7-day grace period for month-to-month tenancies; lease terms control for fixed-term.
Connecticut(CT)9 daysReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
9-day grace period required; no statutory fee cap.
Delaware(DE)5 days% of rent$90.00
5% of rent
5-day grace period; max late fee of 5% of monthly rent.
District of Columbia(DC)5 days% of rent$90.00
5% of rent
5-day grace period; late fee capped at 5% of monthly rent.
Florida(FL)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap or grace period mandate. Courts use reasonableness standard. 3-day notice required before eviction.
Georgia(GA)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap or mandatory grace period. Fees above 5% may face court scrutiny as a penalty clause.
Hawaii(HI)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Idaho(ID)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap or mandatory grace period.
Illinois(IL)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; fees must be reasonable. Chicago has additional tenant protections — check local ordinances.
Indiana(IN)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Iowa(IA)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; must not be a penalty. Usually 5% or a reasonable flat fee.
Kansas(KS)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Kentucky(KY)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; must be in writing in the lease.
Louisiana(LA)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Maine(ME)15 daysReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
15-day grace period required; no statutory fee cap.
Maryland(MD)—% of rent$90.00
5% of rent
Late fee capped at 5% of monthly rent.
Massachusetts(MA)30 daysReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
30-day grace period required; no statutory fee cap.
Michigan(MI)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; must be expressly stated in the lease to be enforceable.
Minnesota(MN)—% of rent$144.00
8% of rent
Late fee capped at 8% of overdue rent amount.
Mississippi(MS)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Missouri(MO)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Montana(MT)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; must be in the lease.
Nebraska(NE)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Nevada(NV)3 days% of rent$90.00
5% of rent
Late fee capped at 5% of monthly rent. 3-day grace period.
New Hampshire(NH)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; must be in the lease.
New Jersey(NJ)5 daysReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
5-day grace period required; no statutory fee cap. Anti-Eviction Act limits eviction solely for late fees.
New Mexico(NM)—% of rent$180.00
10% of rent
Late fee capped at 10% of monthly rent.
New York(NY)5 daysFlat or %$50.00
$50 or 5% (whichever is less)
Late fee capped at $50 or 5% of rent, whichever is less. 5-day grace period. Applies to all residential leases statewide.
North Carolina(NC)5 daysFlat or %$90.00
$15 or 5% (whichever is greater)
$15 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is greater. Applies after 5+ days late.
North Dakota(ND)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Ohio(OH)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap or mandatory grace period. Lease terms control.
Oklahoma(OK)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; must be stated in the lease.
Oregon(OR)4 days% of rent$90.00
5% of rent
Max 5% of rent. 4-day grace for week-to-week, 8-day for month-to-month leases.
Pennsylvania(PA)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap or mandatory grace period. Fees above 5% may be scrutinized.
Rhode Island(RI)15 daysReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
15-day grace period required; no statutory fee cap.
South Carolina(SC)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
South Dakota(SD)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Tennessee(TN)5 days% of rent$180.00
10% of rent
5-day grace period; max late fee of 10% of monthly rent.
Texas(TX)2 days% of rent$216.00
12% of rent
Cap of 12% for 4+ unit properties, 10% for smaller. Must be in the lease. 2-day grace period.
Utah(UT)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; must be in the lease.
Vermont(VT)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Virginia(VA)5 days% of rent$180.00
10% of rent
Late fee capped at 10% of monthly rent. 5-day grace period. Must be in the lease.
Washington(WA)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
Must be disclosed in writing before lease signing. No per-day fees. Fees must be reasonable.
West Virginia(WV)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Wisconsin(WI)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.
Wyoming(WY)—ReasonableNo cap
No statutory cap — must be "reasonable"
No statutory cap; lease terms control.

Click any row to load that state into the calculator above. Max fee amounts shown are based on your current monthly rent of $1,800.00.

Legal Disclaimer

This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Late fee laws change frequently and may vary by city, county, or lease type. Always verify current rules with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before enforcing late fees. RentrIQ is not liable for any actions taken based on this tool.

How Late Fees Work for Landlords

Late fees serve as a deterrent for late rent payments and help compensate landlords for the administrative burden of chasing overdue rent. However, they must be structured carefully to be legally enforceable.

Key requirements in most states:

  • The fee amount or calculation method must be clearly stated in the signed lease
  • Any mandatory grace period must be honored before the fee can be charged
  • The fee must be "reasonable" — it cannot be punitive or disproportionate to actual damages
  • Late fees generally cannot be stacked with NSF fees without checking state rules
  • Per-day fees are restricted or prohibited in some states (e.g., Washington, Oregon)

A well-structured late fee policy — especially one that's automated — actually reducesthe number of late payments you'll deal with. Tenants who know a fee will hit automatically are far more likely to pay on time.

Grace Period Requirements by State

A grace period is the number of days after the rent due date during which no late fee can be charged. Some states mandate grace periods by law; others leave it entirely to the lease.

States with mandatory grace periods include:

CA3d
CO7d
CT9d
DE5d
DC5d
ME15d
MA30d
NV3d
NJ5d
NY5d
NC5d
OR4d
RI15d
TN5d
TX2d
VA5d

Even in states without a mandatory grace period, offering 3–5 days is industry standard and demonstrates good faith — which can matter significantly if a fee is challenged in court.

Read our full state-by-state late fee guide

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Configure your grace period and fee structure once, and RentrIQ automatically applies compliant late fees when rent goes past due — no manual tracking, no accidental grace period violations.

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