Is there a limit on late fees in Virginia?

Yes — late fees are generally capped at 10% of rent or of the unpaid balance, whichever is less. Late fees limited to 10% of rent or 10% of unpaid balance, whichever is less. Must be specified in lease. No mandatory grace period.

Is there a grace period before late fees in Virginia?

Virginia has no statutory grace period; any grace period comes from your lease.

Can I dispute an excessive late fee in Virginia?

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

Virginia Late Fee Laws

10% of rent or of the unpaid balance, whichever is less

Virginia generally caps late fees at 10% of rent or of the unpaid balance, whichever is less — one of 16 US jurisdictions with a statutory cap. The FAQ below covers how the cap applies.

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

How Virginia 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 Virginia compares with other states in our database.

State	Late Fee Laws
Virginia	10% of rent or of the unpaid balance, whichever is less
Washington	no statutory percentage cap
West Virginia	no statutory percentage cap
Wisconsin	no statutory percentage cap
Wyoming	no statutory percentage cap

Frequently asked questions

Is there a limit on late fees in Virginia?: Yes — late fees are generally capped at 10% of rent or of the unpaid balance, whichever is less. Late fees limited to 10% of rent or 10% of unpaid balance, whichever is less. Must be specified in lease. No mandatory grace period.
Is there a grace period before late fees in Virginia?: Virginia has no statutory grace period; any grace period comes from your lease.
Can I dispute an excessive late fee in Virginia?: Yes. Fees that are disproportionate to the landlord's actual costs can be challenged as unreasonable penalties.

Check Your Lease Against Virginia Law

Not sure whether your lease complies with Virginia 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.

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More Virginia lease law guides

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