California sets no fixed dollar or percentage cap on rent late fees, but a late fee in a residential lease is treated as liquidated damages. Under Civil Code § 1671, such a fee is valid only if it reasonably estimates the landlord's actual loss from late payment; arbitrary penalty fees are unenforceable.
California has no statute setting a maximum late fee. Instead, a late fee is a liquidated-damages clause governed by Civil Code § 1671(d), which makes such provisions in residential leases "void except that the parties... may agree... upon an amount which shall be presumed to be the amount of damage sustained by a breach thereof, when, from the nature of the case, it would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix the actual damage." California courts (e.g., Orozco v. Casimiro) have voided late fees that function as penalties rather than genuine estimates of the landlord's costs, such as administrative expense and lost use of funds. A fee unrelated to actual damages is unenforceable even if the lease recites it.
An unenforceable penalty late fee cannot be collected, and amounts already paid may be recoverable by the tenant. Relying on an unlawful penalty fee in an eviction can defeat the unlawful detainer if it inflates the rent demanded.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Camarillo, CA
Vehicles operating on public streets are exempt from CMC Chapter 10.34. CA Vehicle Code §27007 limits vehicle exhaust noise to 95 dBA. Modified exhausts and ...
Camarillo, CA
Camarillo restricts livestock to agricultural and rural-exclusive zones under CMC Title 19. Keeping horses, cattle, goats, sheep, and similar large animals i...
Camarillo, CA
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Camarillo, CA
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Camarillo, CA
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Camarillo, CA
Camarillo's municipal code does not set citywide hours or brightness limits for residential holiday light displays. Light displays must comply with CMC Chapt...
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