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When can a landlord charge a late fee for rent in Tennessee, and how much?
Short answer
URLTA counties: late fee only when rent is more than 5 days late (day 1 is the due date; if day 5 is a Sunday or legal holiday, the next business day), at most 10% of the rent owed
When: A late fee may be charged only when rent is more than 5 days late, counting the due date as day 1 (Sunday or legal holiday on day 5: next business day)
The landlord can charge a late fee only if rent is more than five days late. The five days start on the day rent is due; if the fifth day is a Sunday or legal holiday, the tenant can pay on the next business day without a fee. The late fee cannot be more than 10% of the rent owed.
"If your rent is more than 5 days late, the landlord can charge you extra. The 5 days start the day the rent is due. Is the 5th day on a Sunday or legal holiday? Then you" tn.gov
"must pay the rent the next business day. The most the late fee can be is 10% of the rent you owe." tn.gov
URLTA counties: late fee only when rent is more than 5 days late (day 1 is the due date; if day 5 is a Sunday or legal holiday, the next business day), at most 10% of the rent owed Verified
Deadline: A late fee may be charged only when rent is more than 5 days late, counting the due date as day 1 (Sunday or legal holiday on day 5: next business day)
The landlord can charge a late fee only if rent is more than five days late. The five days start on the day rent is due; if the fifth day is a Sunday or legal holiday, the tenant can pay on the next business day without a fee. The late fee cannot be more than 10% of the rent owed.
Who it covers: Applies in the counties where the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies; the booklet lists Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Davidson (Nashville), Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Maury, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby (Memphis), Sullivan, Sumner, Washington, Williamson and Wilson counties.
"If your rent is more than 5 days late, the landlord can charge you extra. The 5 days start the day the rent is due. Is the 5th day on a Sunday or legal holiday? Then you" tn.gov
Base rule used to compute the date: "must pay the rent the next business day. The most the late fee can be is 10% of the rent you owe." tn.gov
Notes: Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-201(d) as summarized by the booklet (the booklet prints this text in two columns, so it is quoted in two parts). Tennessee does not publish a free official text of the Tennessee Code, so this is sourced from the Legal Aid Society renters' rights booklet hosted on tn.gov (rev. 7/15); confirm the current statute.
Last verified 2026-10-24 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction