Massachusetts strictly limits late fees. Under M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B(1)(c), no lease or rental agreement may impose any interest or penalty for late rent until the rent is at least 30 days overdue. A late fee charged before that 30-day mark is unlawful.
M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B(1)(c) provides that "No lease or other rental agreement shall impose any interest or penalty for failure to pay rent until thirty days after such rent shall have been due." This means a Massachusetts landlord cannot charge a late fee, penalty, or interest the moment rent is a few days late — the rent must be at least 30 days overdue before any such charge can be imposed. The statute does not set a maximum dollar amount or percentage for the late fee itself; its core restriction is the 30-day waiting period. A lease clause purporting to charge a late fee sooner is contrary to the statute and unenforceable.
No fixed statutory fine; a late fee or interest charged before rent is 30 days overdue violates § 15B(1)(c) and is unenforceable, and the tenant may contest or recover an improperly collected charge.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates construction noise under its general noise ordinance and zoning provisions. Any use that is significantly offensive or detrimental to sur...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro addresses nuisance dogs under its animal control ordinance and state law MGL Ch. 140. Dogs that habitually bark or cause disturbances may result in...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro adopted a noise ordinance giving police the ability to issue citations and fines for excessive noise. Noise plainly audible at 200 feet may trigger...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates vehicle parking through Chapter 10 of the Ordinances and the zoning code. Oversized vehicles must comply with general street parking rule...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates commercial vehicle parking through its traffic ordinances and zoning code. Service zone loading is limited to 15 minutes (30 minutes whil...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro enforces parking regulations under Chapter 10 of the City Ordinances. During snow emergencies per Ordinance 10-5.1(A), parking is prohibited on bot...
See how Attleboro's late fees & grace periods rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.