LandlordDates
Not legal advice. This is a free reference compiled from official government sources. Laws change and local details matter. Confirm every deadline with the official source or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.

Last verified: · Confidence: high

When can a landlord charge a late fee for rent in North Carolina, and how much?

Short answer

Late fees: only when rent is 5 calendar days or more late (day 1 is the day after the due date); up to $15 or 5% monthly, $4 or 5% weekly

When: A late fee may be charged only when rent is 5 calendar days or more late, counting from the day after it was due

If the lease provides for one, a late fee can be charged only when rent is five calendar days or more late, with the first day being the day after the rent was due. For monthly rent the fee may not exceed $15 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is greater ($4 or 5% for weekly rent), and it may be imposed only once per late payment.

"to be chargeable only if any rental payment is five calendar days or more late, with the first day being the day after the rent was due."
ncleg.gov
"a landlord may charge a late fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) or five percent (5%) of the monthly rent, whichever is greater."
ncleg.gov
"A late fee under subsection (a) of this section may be imposed only one time for each late rental payment."
ncleg.gov

Source: ncleg.gov · Last verified 2026-10-24 · Confidence: high · Full rule details

North Carolina rules on this topic

Late fees: only when rent is 5 calendar days or more late (day 1 is the day after the due date); up to $15 or 5% monthly, $4 or 5% weekly Verified

Deadline: A late fee may be charged only when rent is 5 calendar days or more late, counting from the day after it was due

If the lease provides for one, a late fee can be charged only when rent is five calendar days or more late, with the first day being the day after the rent was due. For monthly rent the fee may not exceed $15 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is greater ($4 or 5% for weekly rent), and it may be imposed only once per late payment.

Applies to: any number of units · Layer: North Carolina · Topic: Late fees and grace periods

"to be chargeable only if any rental payment is five calendar days or more late, with the first day being the day after the rent was due."
ncleg.gov
"a landlord may charge a late fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) or five percent (5%) of the monthly rent, whichever is greater."
ncleg.gov
"A late fee under subsection (a) of this section may be imposed only one time for each late rental payment."
ncleg.gov

Notes: N.C.G.S. 42-46(a)-(b).

Last verified 2026-10-24 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction

Same topic in other places

More: Late fees and grace periods in every covered place · All North Carolina landlord rules · Build a dated calendar