Minnesota 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 overdue rent
Grace period
None
The cap
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.177(a); § 504B.120, Minnesota caps late fees at 8% of the overdue rent payment. A lease cannot dodge the rule by offering an 'on-time discount' from an inflated rent, and for subsidized tenancies the fee may be calculated only on the tenant's share of the rent.
When the fee can start
Minnesota law sets no mandatory grace period — when a late fee kicks in is governed by the lease. No late fee may be charged unless the landlord and tenant agreed to it in writing, and the agreement must specify when the fee will be imposed.
If you've been charged an illegal fee
An over-cap or non-written fee is simply not chargeable, and amounts collected can be demanded back. Separately, Minnesota's fee-disclosure law requires all mandatory fees to be disclosed in the lease with a first-page total — violations of that disclosure rule carry treble damages and attorney's fees.
Charged a fee the law doesn't allow?
Answer a few questions and get a formal demand letter citing Minn. Stat. § 504B.177(a); § 504B.120 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 Minnesota law requires and what your landlord may owe you.
Minnesota deposit lawCommon questions
- Is there a limit on late fees for rent in Minnesota?
- Yes. Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.177(a); § 504B.120, Minnesota caps late fees at 8% of the overdue rent payment. A lease cannot dodge the rule by offering an 'on-time discount' from an inflated rent, and for subsidized tenancies the fee may be calculated only on the tenant's share of the rent.
- Can my landlord charge a late fee the day rent is due in Minnesota?
- Minnesota law imposes no mandatory grace period, so the lease controls when a late fee may be charged. No late fee may be charged unless the landlord and tenant agreed to it in writing, and the agreement must specify when the fee will be imposed.
- What can I do if my landlord charged an illegal late fee in Minnesota?
- An over-cap or non-written fee is simply not chargeable, and amounts collected can be demanded back. Separately, Minnesota's fee-disclosure law requires all mandatory fees to be disclosed in the lease with a first-page total — violations of that disclosure rule carry treble damages and attorney's fees.
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.