Is there a grace period for paying rent?

It depends on the state. Across the 13 states and the District of Columbia where Seayora holds a published statute, the answer ranges from 2 days to 30 days. The table below gives the figure for each, with the statute it comes from.

Grace period before a late fee, state by state

StateGrace period before a late feeSource
Colorado7 daysC.R.S. § 38-12-105
Connecticut9 daysConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a
Delaware5 days25 Del. C. § 5501(d)
District of Columbia5 daysD.C. Code § 42-3505.31
Maine15 days14 M.R.S. § 6028
Massachusetts30 daysM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c)
Nevada3 daysNRS 118A.210
New Jersey5 business days (some tenants only)N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.1
New York5 daysN.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a(2)
North Carolina5 daysN.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46(a)
Oregon4 daysORS 90.260
Tennessee5 daysTenn. Code § 66-28-201(d)
Texas2 daysTex. Prop. Code § 92.019
Washington5 daysRCW 59.18.170

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

Only states where Seayora holds a published statute appear above. Where no statute is recorded, no figure is shown rather than a guess.

The answer in full, for the biggest rental markets

Is there a grace period for paying rent in Texas?

Yes. In Texas, a landlord may not charge a late fee unless some of the rent has remained unpaid for two full days after it was due. The late fee itself is limited too: a late fee is presumed reasonable if it is no more than 12% of the monthly rent in a building of four or fewer units, or 10% in a building of more than four; a larger fee is lawful only if it does not exceed the landlord’s uncertain damages from the late payment. The percentages cover any initial charge and any daily charge combined. This is Tex. Prop. Code § 92.019.

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Is there a grace period for paying rent in New York?

Yes. In New York, a landlord may not charge a late fee unless the rent is still unpaid five days after it was due. The late fee itself is limited too: a late fee may not exceed $50 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is less. This is N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a(2).

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Is there a grace period for paying rent in North Carolina?

Yes. In North Carolina, a late fee may be charged only once the rent is five calendar days or more late, counting from the day after it was due. The late fee itself is limited too: a late fee may not exceed $15 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is greater. Where rent is paid weekly the limit is $4 or 5% of the weekly rent, whichever is greater. This is N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46(a).

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Is there a grace period for paying rent in New Jersey?

Only for some tenants. In New Jersey, for senior citizens receiving Social Security or another government pension in its place, and people receiving Social Security Disability, SSI or WorkFirst New Jersey benefits, a landlord may not charge a late fee until five business days after the rent was due. A violation carries a fine of $100 for a first offence, $250 for a second and $500 for any later one. This is N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.1.

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Is there a grace period for paying rent in Washington?

Yes. In Washington, a landlord may not charge a late fee for rent paid within five days of its due date. Once the rent is more than five days late, late fees may run from the first day after the due date. The statute sets no maximum. This is RCW 59.18.170.

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Is there a grace period for paying rent in Massachusetts?

Yes. In Massachusetts, a lease may not impose any interest or penalty for late rent until 30 days after the rent was due. This is M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c).

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Is there a grace period for paying rent in Colorado?

Yes. In Colorado, a landlord may not charge a late fee until the rent is at least seven calendar days late. The late fee itself is limited too: a late fee may not exceed $50 or 5% of the past-due rent, whichever is greater. A late fee may not be charged more than once for one late payment unless the total stays within the cap, may not carry interest, may not be taken out of a later rent payment, and must be notified to the tenant in writing within 180 days of the missed due date. This is C.R.S. § 38-12-105.

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Is there a grace period for paying rent in Nevada?

Yes. In Nevada, in a tenancy longer than week to week, no late fee may be charged until at least three calendar days after the rent is due. The late fee itself is limited too: a late fee may not exceed 5% of the periodic rent. The maximum may not be raised on the strength of a late fee already imposed. This is NRS 118A.210.

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How Seayora uses this rule

Seayora charges only the late fee written into the lease, after the grace period the lease sets, and adds no late fee of its own. This page states the statutory ceiling and waiting period so the terms of a lease can be checked against them before it is signed.

Other rules compared across states

Every rule for one state

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