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.
Glendale, CA
Glendale limits construction noise to 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays. Construction is prohibited on Sundays and city-observed holiday...
Glendale, CA
Glendale is impacted by aircraft noise from Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), located adjacent to the city's southeastern border. Aircraft noise is federally ...
Glendale, CA
Glendale enforces nighttime noise restrictions under the Glendale Municipal Code. It is unlawful to operate radios, musical instruments, TVs, or other sound-...
Glendale, CA
Glendale addresses barking dogs under its noise ordinance and animal control regulations. Persistent barking that disturbs neighbors constitutes a nuisance. ...
Glendale, CA
Glendale restricts amplified sound under GMC 8.36 Article II. Sound-amplifying equipment may not exceed 15 dBA above the actual or presumed ambient at any pr...
Glendale, CA
Glendale enforces presumed ambient noise standards under GMC 8.36.040. Residential (single-family/duplex) zones are limited to 55 dBA daytime and 45 dBA nigh...
See how Glendale'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.