District of Columbia rent late fee law
What your landlord is allowed to charge when rent is late, how soon they can charge it, and what to do about a fee the law doesn't allow.
Maximum late fee
5% of rent
Grace period
5 days
The cap
Under D.C. Code § 42-3505.31; penalties at § 42-3509.01(a-1), DC caps late fees at 5% of the full rent due, and adds hard prohibitions: no interest on late fees, no deducting a fee from a later rent payment, no more than one fee per late payment, no fee on the portion of rent a subsidy provider owes — and a tenant can never be evicted over unpaid late fees.
When the fee can start
A fee is allowed only if the full rent hasn't been paid within five days of the due date (or any longer grace period in the lease). The written lease must inform the tenant of the maximum late fee that may be charged — no disclosure, no fee. The landlord must also invoice the fee and give 30 days to pay it.
If you've been charged an illegal fee
A landlord who overcharges is liable for the amount above the allowable fee — trebled if in bad faith — plus a civil fine of $100 to $5,000 per violation.
Charged a fee the law doesn't allow?
Answer a few questions and get a formal demand letter citing D.C. Code § 42-3505.31; penalties at § 42-3509.01(a-1) and exactly which rule your landlord broke — free to generate and download. We can also send it by USPS Certified Mail for you, with the delivery record that holds up in court.
Dispute my late feeDid your landlord also keep your security deposit?
Every state sets a deadline for returning your security deposit, with real penalties for landlords who miss it. See what District of Columbia law requires and what your landlord may owe you.
District of Columbia deposit lawCommon questions
- Is there a limit on late fees for rent in District of Columbia?
- Yes. Under D.C. Code § 42-3505.31; penalties at § 42-3509.01(a-1), DC caps late fees at 5% of the full rent due, and adds hard prohibitions: no interest on late fees, no deducting a fee from a later rent payment, no more than one fee per late payment, no fee on the portion of rent a subsidy provider owes — and a tenant can never be evicted over unpaid late fees.
- Can my landlord charge a late fee the day rent is due in District of Columbia?
- No. A fee is allowed only if the full rent hasn't been paid within five days of the due date (or any longer grace period in the lease).
- What can I do if my landlord charged an illegal late fee in District of Columbia?
- A landlord who overcharges is liable for the amount above the allowable fee — trebled if in bad faith — plus a civil fine of $100 to $5,000 per violation.
Statute text verified against the published source on August 6, 2026. Laws change — confirm the current text before relying on it. This page is general information, not legal advice.