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Rent Late Fee Laws in the District of Columbia

In the District of Columbia a late fee cannot exceed 5% of the rent due and may be charged only if the lease states the maximum fee and rent is unpaid more than 5 days after the due date.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

District of Columbia at a glance

Late fee cap
5% of the rent due
The lease must state the maximum late fee. Only one fee per late payment, no interest on fees, and no eviction for unpaid late fees.
Cap (% of rent)
5%
Grace period
5 days
Or any longer grace period stated in the lease.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in the District of Columbia

How much can a landlord charge as a late fee in the District of Columbia?

Late fee cap in the District of Columbia: 5% of the rent due. The lease must state the maximum late fee. Only one fee per late payment, no interest on fees, and no eviction for unpaid late fees.

What percentage of the rent is the late fee cap in the District of Columbia?

Cap (% of rent) in the District of Columbia: 5%.

How many days does a tenant have before a late fee can be charged in the District of Columbia?

Grace period in the District of Columbia: 5 days. Or any longer grace period stated in the lease.

Where do the the District of Columbia rent late fee laws come from?

The rules above come from D.C. Code 42-3505.31. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

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.