Most states have specific laws covering various aspects of rent. These rules (typically set out in the lease or rental agreement) may cover when rent is due (including what happens if the rent due date falls on a weekend date or holiday); where rent is due (such as to the landlord's business address); whether or not tenants have a grace period (for late rent before a landlord charges a late fee); and late fees (if any). Here are citations for statutes that set out rent rules in each state; note that the footnotes include details on state rules on late fees. When a state has no statute on a particular legal issue, the space is left blank. Other state laws cover the amount of notice landlords must provide to increase rent; rules and procedures for terminating a tenant for nonpayment of rent; extra fees a landlord may charge if a tenant's rent check bounces, or (in a handful of states) some form of rent control.
To read your state laws, see the website maintained by the Cornell Legal Information Institute.
State |
When Rent Is Due |
Grace Period |
Where Rent Is Due |
Late Fees |
Ala. Code § 35-9A-161(c) | Ala. Code § 35-9A-161(c) | |||
Alaska |
Alaska Stat. § 34.03.020(c) | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.020(c) | ||
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1314(C), 33-1368(B) |
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 33-1314(C) |
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 33-1368(B) |
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Arkansas |
Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-401 | Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-17-701,18-17-901 | Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-401 | |
Cal. Civ. Code § 1947 | Cal. Civ. Code § 1962 | Orozco v. Casimiro, 121 Cal. App.4th Supp. 7 (2004) | ||
Colorado |
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Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 47a-3a |
Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 47a-15a |
Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 47a-3a |
Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §§ 47a-4(a)(8), 47a-15a |
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Delaware4 |
Del. Code Ann. tit. 25, § 5501(b) |
Del. Code Ann. title 25, § 5501(b) |
Del. Code Ann. tit. 25, § 5501(d) |
|
D.C.5 |
D.C. Code Ann. § 42-3505.31 | D.C. Code Ann. § 42-3505.31 | ||
Fla. Stat. Ann. § 83.46(1) | ||||
Georgia6 |
Ga. Code Ann. § 44-7-16 | |||
Hawaii |
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-21(b) | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-21(b) |
Late charge cannot exceed 8% of the amount of rent due. |
|
Idaho |
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735 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. § 5/9-218 |
735 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. § 5/9-218 |
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Watson v. Penn, 108 Ind. 21 (1886), 8 N.E. 636 (1886) | ||||
Iowa7 |
Iowa Code Ann. § 562A.9(3) | Iowa Code Ann. § 562A.9(3) | Iowa Code Ann. § 562A.9(4) | |
Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2545(c) | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2545(c) | |||
Kentucky |
Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 383.565(2) | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 383.565(2) | ||
Louisiana |
La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 2703 | La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 2703 | ||
Maine8 |
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 6028 |
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 6028 |
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Md. Code Ann. [Real Prop.] § 8-208(d)(3) |
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Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch.186, § 15B(1)(c); ch. 239, § 8A |
Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 186, § 15B(1)(c) |
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Michigan |
Hilsendegen v. Scheich, 21 N.W.2d 894 (1885) |
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Minnesota11 |
Minn. Stat. Ann. § 504B.177 | |||
Mississippi |
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Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.060 | ||||
Montana |
Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-201(2)(c) | Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-201(2)(b) | ||
Nebraska |
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1414(3) | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1414(3) | ||
Nevada12 |
Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 118A.210 |
Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 118A.200 |
Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 118A.200, 118.210(4) |
|
New Hampshire13 |
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540:8 |
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N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:42-6.1 | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:42-6.1 | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:42-6.1 | ||
New Mexico15 |
N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-8-15(B) | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-8-15(B) | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-8-15(D) | |
New York16 |
N.Y. Real Prop. Law 238-a | N.Y. Real Prop. Law 238-a | ||
N.C. Gen Stat. § 42-46 | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46 | |||
North Dakota |
N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-20 | |||
Ohio |
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Oklahoma18 |
Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 41, § 109 |
Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 41, § 132(B) |
Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 41, § 109 |
Sun Ridge Investors, Ltd. v. Parker, 956 P.2d 876 (1998) |
Oregon19 |
Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.220 | Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.260 | Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.220 | Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.260 |
Pennsylvania |
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Rhode Island |
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-15(c) | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-15(c) | |
South Carolina |
S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-310(c) | S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-310(c) | ||
South Dakota |
S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 43-32-12 |
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Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-201(c) | Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-201(d) | Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-201(c) | Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-201(d) | |
Texas21 |
Tex. Prop. Code Ann. § 92.019 |
Tex. Prop Code Ann. §§ 92.019, 92.0191 | ||
Utah |
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Vermont |
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9, § 4455 | |||
Virginia22 |
Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1204 | Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1204 | Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1204 | Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1204 |
West Virginia |
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Wisconsin24 |
Wis. Adm. Code § ATCP 134.09(8) | |||
Wyoming |
Updated: December 2020
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