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Hawaii 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

8% of rent due

Grace period

None

The cap

Under HRS § 521-21(f), Where the rental agreement provides for a late charge, Hawaii caps it at 8% of the amount of rent due.

When the fee can start

Hawaii law sets no mandatory grace period — when a late fee kicks in is governed by the lease. The charge is only available where the rental agreement provides for it — no clause, no fee.

If you've been charged an illegal fee

A charge above 8%, or one with no lease basis, is unlawful to that extent and not collectible — demand a refund of the excess.

Charged a fee the law doesn't allow?

Answer a few questions and get a formal demand letter citing HRS § 521-21(f) 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 fee

Did your landlord also keep your security deposit?

Hawaii landlords have 14 days to return your deposit after you move out — and real penalties apply when they don't. Generate a formal demand letter citing Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44, and we can send it certified mail for you.

Demand my deposit back

Common questions

Is there a limit on late fees for rent in Hawaii?
Yes. Under HRS § 521-21(f), Where the rental agreement provides for a late charge, Hawaii caps it at 8% of the amount of rent due.
Can my landlord charge a late fee the day rent is due in Hawaii?
Hawaii law imposes no mandatory grace period, so the lease controls when a late fee may be charged. The charge is only available where the rental agreement provides for it — no clause, no fee.
What can I do if my landlord charged an illegal late fee in Hawaii?
A charge above 8%, or one with no lease basis, is unlawful to that extent and not collectible — demand a refund of the excess.

Other Hawaii tenant rights

Landlords who get one of these wrong often get another wrong too.

Hawaii security deposit lawHow long your landlord has to return it, and what they owe if they don't.Hawaii landlord repair lawsWhat your landlord must fix, how long they get, and your options if they don't.Hawaii landlord entry lawsHow much notice your landlord owes you before letting themselves in.

Late fee laws in other states

These rules change at the state line. Every page is checked against that state's own published statute.

How this page was checked

  • Read from the source. Every deadline, cap and penalty here was taken from the legislature's published text — the statute, session law or administrative code itself.
  • No legal-information websites. Commercial summaries were used only to find a provision, never as authority for it. An automated check fails our build if any state we serve cites a secondary source.
  • Locked against drift. The verified figures are pinned by regression tests, so a later edit cannot quietly change a deadline or a penalty.
  • Last verified August 14, 2026. Laws change — confirm the current text before relying on it.

General information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm.

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