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When can a landlord charge a late fee for rent in District of Columbia, and how much?
Short answer
Late fees: only after rent is unpaid for 5 days after the due date (or a longer lease grace period), at most 5% of the rent, and only if the written lease states the maximum
When: A late fee may be charged only if the full rent is not paid within 5 days after the due date (or a longer grace period in the lease)
A housing provider may charge a late fee of no more than 5% of the full rent due, only if the written lease tells the tenant the maximum late fee and only if the full rent is not paid within 5 days (or any longer grace period in the lease) after it is due. No interest on late fees, no deducting a late fee from later rent, only one fee per late payment, and no eviction for an unpaid late fee.
"a housing provider may charge a late fee of no more than 5% of the full amount of rent due by a tenant." code.dccouncil.gov
"If the tenant has not paid the full amount of rent within 5 days, or any longer grace period that may be provided in the lease, after the day the rent payment is due." code.dccouncil.gov
"Impose a late fee more than one time on each late payment;" code.dccouncil.gov
Late fees: only after rent is unpaid for 5 days after the due date (or a longer lease grace period), at most 5% of the rent, and only if the written lease states the maximum Verified
Deadline: A late fee may be charged only if the full rent is not paid within 5 days after the due date (or a longer grace period in the lease)
A housing provider may charge a late fee of no more than 5% of the full rent due, only if the written lease tells the tenant the maximum late fee and only if the full rent is not paid within 5 days (or any longer grace period in the lease) after it is due. No interest on late fees, no deducting a late fee from later rent, only one fee per late payment, and no eviction for an unpaid late fee.
"a housing provider may charge a late fee of no more than 5% of the full amount of rent due by a tenant." code.dccouncil.gov
"If the tenant has not paid the full amount of rent within 5 days, or any longer grace period that may be provided in the lease, after the day the rent payment is due." code.dccouncil.gov
"Impose a late fee more than one time on each late payment;" code.dccouncil.gov
Notes: D.C. Code 42-3505.31 (code.dccouncil.gov).
Last verified 2026-10-24 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction