Connecticut Statewide Rule
Connecticut Late Fee and Grace Period Rules
Key Facts
- Monthly grace period
- 9 days (Sec. 47a-15a)
- Weekly grace period
- 4 days (Sec. 47a-15a)
- Late fee before grace ends
- Prohibited (Sec. 47a-4(a)(8))
- Late-charge cap
- Lesser of $5/day (max $50) or 5%
Summary
Connecticut law gives tenants a grace period before rent is late: nine days for monthly tenancies and four days for weekly tenancies under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 47a-15a. Under Sec. 47a-4(a)(8), a lease may not require a tenant to pay any late charge before the grace period expires.
If a rental agreement contains a valid written agreement to pay a late charge in accordance with subsection (a) of section 47a-4 a landlord may assess a tenant such a late charge on a rent payment made subsequent to the grace period in accordance with this section. Such late charge may not exceed the lesser of (1) five dollars per day, up to a maximum of fifty dollars, or (2) five per cent of the delinquent rent payment or, in the case of a rental agreement paid in whole or in part by a governmental or charitable entity, five per cent of the tenant's share of the delinquent rent payment. The landlord may not assess more than one late charge upon a delinquent rent payment, regardless of how long the rent remains unpaid.
Full Breakdown
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a, if rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay within nine days (or four days for a one-week tenancy), the landlord may begin termination; that window is the statutory grace period. Section 47a-4(a)(8) voids any lease term requiring a late charge before the § 47a-15a grace period expires. As amended in 2023, § 47a-15a also caps a late charge at the lesser of five dollars per day, up to fifty dollars total, or five per cent of the delinquent rent payment.
Violations & Penalties
A late-fee provision that charges before the grace period expires is void under Sec. 47a-4(a)(8); a tenant cannot be evicted for unpaid rent until the nine-day (or four-day) grace period has passed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the rent grace period in Connecticut?
When can a Connecticut landlord charge a late fee?
Sources
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