Is there a limit on late fees in Tennessee?

Yes — late fees are generally capped at 10% of the past-due rent. Late fees cannot exceed 10% of past due rent. 5-day grace period required (includes due date; if 5th day is Sunday/holiday, fee cannot be charged if paid next business day).

Is there a grace period before late fees in Tennessee?

Yes — Tennessee generally provides a 5-day grace period before a late fee can be charged (see the rent grace period guide for the conditions).

Can I dispute an excessive late fee in Tennessee?

Yes. Fees that are disproportionate to the landlord's actual costs can be challenged as unreasonable penalties.

Tennessee Late Fee Laws

10% of the past-due rent

Tennessee generally caps late fees at 10% of the past-due rent — one of 16 US jurisdictions with a statutory cap. The FAQ below covers how the cap applies.

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

How Tennessee compares

16 of 51 US jurisdictions cap late fees by statute (as a percentage, dollar amount, or formula); the rest rely on reasonableness standards or set no limit. Here is how Tennessee compares with other states in our database.

State	Late Fee Laws
Tennessee	10% of the past-due rent
Texas	must be reasonable — roughly 10–12% of monthly rent is typical
Utah	10% of rent or $75, whichever is greater
Vermont	no statutory percentage cap
Virginia	10% of rent or of the unpaid balance, whichever is less

Frequently asked questions

Is there a limit on late fees in Tennessee?: Yes — late fees are generally capped at 10% of the past-due rent. Late fees cannot exceed 10% of past due rent. 5-day grace period required (includes due date; if 5th day is Sunday/holiday, fee cannot be charged if paid next business day).
Is there a grace period before late fees in Tennessee?: Yes — Tennessee generally provides a 5-day grace period before a late fee can be charged (see the rent grace period guide for the conditions).
Can I dispute an excessive late fee in Tennessee?: Yes. Fees that are disproportionate to the landlord's actual costs can be challenged as unreasonable penalties.

Check Your Lease Against Tennessee Law

Not sure whether your lease complies with Tennessee law? Upload it and our analyzer flags problem clauses — deposit terms, entry rights, fees and prohibited provisions — using the same statute-backed database this page is generated from.

Analyze My Lease Free

Educational tool — not legal advice. First analysis is free, no signup required.

More Tennessee lease law guides

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