Massachusetts rent late fee law & calculator
Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §15B(1)(c): No cap amount — but no fee until rent is 30 days late. Grace period: 30 days.
No late fee
$0.00
Paid within the grace period
A late fee is only collectible if your lease authorizes it. General information, not legal advice.
What Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §15B(1)(c) requires
- Maximum fee: No cap amount — but no fee until rent is 30 days late
- Grace period: 30 days
- Lease requirement: the fee must be authorized in the written rental agreement — an unauthorized fee is uncollectible.
- No penalty of any kind may be imposed until the rent is 30 days overdue — the strictest grace rule in the country
- That includes disguised versions: a 'discount for paying early' that vanishes on day 2 is treated as an illegal late fee
Rules as of August 2026. Statutes change — verify with the current text of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §15B(1)(c) before relying on a number, and check city and county ordinances, which can be stricter. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a Massachusetts attorney for your situation.
Not in Massachusetts? Every state's late-fee rules → Also for Massachusetts landlords: the security-deposit return deadline →
Frequently asked questions
Can a Massachusetts landlord charge a late fee on day 5?
No. G.L. c.186 §15B(1)(c) bars any late penalty until rent is 30 days overdue, and the clause must be in the lease. Early-payment 'discounts' that function as day-2 late fees violate the same rule. Massachusetts landlords manage late rent with prompt notices and, if needed, the 14-day notice to quit — not fees.
Late fees that apply themselves
Set the rule once — LetsGoLandlord applies fees on schedule, on their own ledger line. Free for 14 days.