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Rent Late Fee Laws in Connecticut

In Connecticut a landlord may charge a late fee only after a 9 day grace period (4 days for a weekly tenancy), and the fee is capped at the lesser of $5 per day up to $50, or 5% of the late rent.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Connecticut at a glance

Late fee cap
Lesser of $5/day (max $50) or 5% of late rent
Only one late charge may be assessed per late payment. If a government or charity pays part of the rent, the 5% is based on the tenant's share.
Cap (% of rent)
5% (or $5/day, max $50, if less)
The cap is the lesser of 5% of the delinquent rent or $5 per day up to $50.
Grace period
9 days
The grace period is 4 days for a one week tenancy. The fee may be charged on a payment made after the grace period.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Connecticut

How much can a landlord charge as a late fee in Connecticut?

Late fee cap in Connecticut: Lesser of $5/day (max $50) or 5% of late rent. Only one late charge may be assessed per late payment. If a government or charity pays part of the rent, the 5% is based on the tenant's share.

What percentage of the rent is the late fee cap in Connecticut?

Cap (% of rent) in Connecticut: 5% (or $5/day, max $50, if less). The cap is the lesser of 5% of the delinquent rent or $5 per day up to $50.

How many days does a tenant have before a late fee can be charged in Connecticut?

Grace period in Connecticut: 9 days. The grace period is 4 days for a one week tenancy. The fee may be charged on a payment made after the grace period.

Where do the Connecticut rent late fee laws come from?

The rules above come from Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-15a and Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-4(a)(8) and (9). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Public Act 23-207 (2023) defined the grace period and added the current late charge cap to Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-15a.

What this means in practice

In many states, a landlord can charge a late fee only if the lease provides for it. Putting the amount, the due date, and any grace period in the lease in plain numbers helps both sides avoid disputes.

When a state counts a grace period, the details matter: whether weekends and holidays count, and whether the clock starts on the due date or the day after. Read the statute text linked on each state page rather than relying on a rounded summary.

Late fees are separate from unpaid rent. Keeping rent receipts and a record of the date each payment arrived makes it easier to check whether a fee was charged correctly and to resolve disagreements before they reach court.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.