How many days late can rent be before fees in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia generally provides a 5-day grace period before late fees. Late fees cannot exceed 5% of rent. 5-day grace period required. Can only charge once per late payment. Tenant payments apply to rent before late fees. Cannot charge to subsidized tenants for subsidy payment delays.

How large can the late fee itself be in District of Columbia?

Late fees in District of Columbia are generally capped at 5% of monthly rent, and fees must also be reasonable.

Can a landlord charge a late fee the day after rent is due in District of Columbia?

Generally no — a 5-day grace period applies first in covered tenancies.

District of Columbia Rent Grace Period

5 days

Tenants in District of Columbia generally get a 5-day grace period after the rent due date before late fees may be charged — District of Columbia is one of 14 US jurisdictions with a mandated statewide grace period. The FAQ below covers who the rule protects.

Educational information: generated from our District of Columbia law database (last updated 2024-01-01). Not legal advice.

How District of Columbia compares

14 of 51 US jurisdictions mandate a general statewide grace period before late fees; elsewhere any grace period is local, conditional, or set by the lease. Here is how District of Columbia compares with other states in our database.

State	Rent Grace Period
District of Columbia	5 days
Florida	no statutory grace period
Georgia	no statutory grace period
Hawaii	no statutory grace period
Idaho	no statutory grace period

Frequently asked questions

How many days late can rent be before fees in District of Columbia?: District of Columbia generally provides a 5-day grace period before late fees. Late fees cannot exceed 5% of rent. 5-day grace period required. Can only charge once per late payment. Tenant payments apply to rent before late fees. Cannot charge to subsidized tenants for subsidy payment delays.
How large can the late fee itself be in District of Columbia?: Late fees in District of Columbia are generally capped at 5% of monthly rent, and fees must also be reasonable.
Can a landlord charge a late fee the day after rent is due in District of Columbia?: Generally no — a 5-day grace period applies first in covered tenancies.

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Educational information generated from state statute data — not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in District of Columbia for your specific situation.