Pennsylvania has no statutory cap on residential late fees and no mandated grace period. A late fee is enforceable only if the written lease provides for it and the amount is reasonable rather than a penalty under contract principles. Courts generally view fees around 5 to 10 percent of monthly rent as reasonable.
The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. Sections 250.101 et seq.) sets no dollar or percentage limit on late fees and requires no grace period before one may be charged. Enforceability instead turns on ordinary contract law: a late fee must be authorized in the written lease, must be a reasonable estimate of the landlord's loss, and must not function as a punitive penalty, which courts will not enforce. There is no statutory floor on timing, so a landlord may charge the fee immediately after the due date if the lease allows. Because no statute governs, the lease language and the common-law reasonableness standard control how large a late fee can be and when it applies.
No specific statutory penalty. A late fee that is unreasonable, punitive, or not authorized by the lease is unenforceable as a penalty under contract law, and a court may decline to award it.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Penn Hills, PA
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Penn Hills, PA
Residential driveways in Penn Hills require a driveway permit and curb cut approval from the Public Works Department. Minimum widths and setbacks set in the ...
Penn Hills, PA
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Penn Hills, PA
Vehicles left on public streets or visible on private property for more than 48 to 72 hours in an inoperable condition may be tagged and towed under Penn Hil...
Penn Hills, PA
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Penn Hills, PA
Commercial vehicles over 1 ton or with commercial markings cannot be parked overnight in residential districts per the Penn Hills Zoning Ordinance. One servi...
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