Tennessee rent late fee law & calculator
Under Tenn. Code §66-28-201(d): 10% of the amount past due. Grace period: 5 days.
Late fee due
$75.00
Paid 9 days late; grace ends 5 days after due
Tennessee maximum for this rent
$150.00
of the amount of rent past due — 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 Tenn. Code §66-28-201(d) requires
- Maximum fee: 10% of the amount past due
- 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; if day 5 lands on a Sunday or legal holiday and the tenant pays the next business day, no fee at all
- Applies in URLTA counties (those over ~75,000 population — including Shelby, Davidson, Knox, and Hamilton); elsewhere the lease and reasonableness govern
Rules as of August 2026. Statutes change — verify with the current text of Tenn. Code §66-28-201(d) before relying on a number, and check city and county ordinances, which can be stricter. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a Tennessee attorney for your situation.
Not in Tennessee? Every state's late-fee rules → Also for Tennessee 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.