Question 1

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in California?

Accepted Answer

In California, an application screening fee may not exceed $30, adjusted each year since 1 January 1998 for increases in the Consumer Price Index — the statute itself publishes no adjusted figure. This is Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.6.

Question 2

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in New York?

Accepted Answer

In New York, a landlord may charge an applicant only for a background check and a credit check, and the total may not exceed the actual cost of the checks or $20, whichever is less. The fee must be waived where the applicant provides a background and credit check dated within the past 30 days, and an applicant who pays is entitled to a copy of the results. This is N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a(1).

Question 3

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Virginia?

Accepted Answer

In Virginia, an application fee may not exceed $50, not counting actual out-of-pocket amounts paid to a third party for background, credit or other pre-occupancy checks. This is Va. Code § 55.1-1203.

Question 4

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Washington?

Accepted Answer

In Washington, a landlord who screens applicants itself may charge only its actual costs of obtaining the background information — no more than a screening service customarily charges in the area — and only after giving the written notice the statute requires. A violation can cost the landlord up to $100 plus attorney fees and court costs. This is RCW 59.18.257(1).

Question 5

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Massachusetts?

Accepted Answer

In Massachusetts, at or before the start of a tenancy a landlord may require only the first month’s rent, the last month’s rent, a security deposit of up to one month’s rent and the cost of a new lock and key — an application fee is not among them. This is M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b).

Question 6

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Colorado?

Accepted Answer

In Colorado, a landlord may charge an application fee only if the whole of it goes to the costs of processing the application, the fee must be the same for every applicant for the landlord’s units, and any part not used must be refunded within 20 calendar days. This is C.R.S. § 38-12-903.

Question 7

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Maryland?

Accepted Answer

In Maryland, where a landlord takes more than $25 in fees from a prospective tenant (other than a security deposit), it may keep only what was actually spent on a credit check or other costs of the application and must return the rest within 15 days, or owe twice the fees in damages. This is Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-213.

Question 8

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Oregon?

Accepted Answer

In Oregon, an applicant screening charge may not exceed the landlord’s average actual cost of screening or the customary charge of a screening company for comparable screening, and only one may be charged in any 60-day period whatever the number of units applied for. The charge must be refunded within 30 days if the unit is filled before the applicant is screened, or the applicant withdraws in writing before any screening is done. This is ORS 90.295.

State	Application fee limit	Source
California	$30, adjusted for inflation since 1998	Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.6
Colorado	Actual processing cost; any unused part refunded	C.R.S. § 38-12-903
Delaware	10% of the monthly rent or $50, whichever is greater	25 Del. C. § 5514(d)
Maryland	Above $25, everything but actual costs is refunded	Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-213
Massachusetts	Not permitted	M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b)
New York	Actual cost of the checks or $20, whichever is less	N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a(1)
Oregon	Average actual cost; one charge per 60 days	ORS 90.295
Rhode Island	Not permitted (actual cost of checks only)	R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-59
Vermont	Not permitted	9 V.S.A. § 4456a
Virginia	$50, plus third-party check costs	Va. Code § 55.1-1203
Washington	Actual cost, no more than the local screening rate	RCW 59.18.257(1)
Wisconsin	A credit report at cost, up to $25	Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.05(4); Wis. Stat. § 704.085(1)(a)

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?

Application fee limit, state by state

The answer in full, for the biggest rental markets