North Carolina rent late fee law & calculator
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. §42-46: Greater of $15 or 5% of the monthly rent (weekly: $4 or 5%). Grace period: 5 days.
Late fee due
$75.00
Paid 9 days late; grace ends 5 days after due
North Carolina maximum for this rent
$75.00
of the monthly rent; weekly leases: greater of $4 or 5% of the weekly rent — assuming the full month's rent is unpaid
A late fee is only collectible if your lease authorizes it. General information, not legal advice.
What N.C. Gen. Stat. §42-46 requires
- Maximum fee: Greater of $15 or 5% of the monthly rent (weekly: $4 or 5%)
- Grace period: 5 days
- Lease requirement: the fee must be authorized in the written rental agreement — an unauthorized fee is uncollectible.
- No fee until rent is 5 days late; one fee per late payment, and it can't be deducted from a later rent payment to create a new default
- Weekly tenancies: greater of $4 or 5% of the weekly rent
Rules as of August 2026. Statutes change — verify with the current text of N.C. Gen. Stat. §42-46 before relying on a number, and check city and county ordinances, which can be stricter. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a North Carolina attorney for your situation.
Not in North Carolina? Every state's late-fee rules → Also for North Carolina landlords: the security-deposit return deadline →
Late fees that apply themselves
Set the rule once — LetsGoLandlord applies fees on schedule, on their own ledger line. Free for 14 days.