Massachusetts Late Fee Law
Massachusetts has no statute capping residential late fees. State law requires a grace period of 30 days before a late fee can be charged.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Massachusetts late fee law at a glance
| Late-fee cap | No state capM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c) (timing only; no amount cap) |
|---|---|
| Grace period | 30 daysM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c) |
| Notice before filing for unpaid rent | 14 days (14-day notice to quit for nonpayment of rent)M.G.L. c. 186, § 11, M.G.L. c. 186, § 12 |
What Massachusetts law says
Is there a limit on late fees in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts sets no maximum late-fee amount, but no interest or penalty may be charged until rent is 30 days late (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c)) (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c) (timing only; no amount cap)).
Does Massachusetts require a grace period before a late fee?
No lease may charge interest or a penalty for late rent until 30 days after the rent was due (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c)).
How much notice must a Massachusetts landlord give for unpaid rent?
For unpaid rent, serve a written 14-day notice to quit; a tenant at will who has not had such a notice in the past 12 months can stop the termination by paying in full within 10 days (and the notice must say so), and a tenant under a lease can cure by paying all rent, interest and costs by the answer date (M.G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 12) (M.G.L. c. 186, § 11).
How Massachusetts compares
31 of 51 verified jurisdictions set no statutory cap. None requires a longer grace period.
None of Massachusetts's 5 neighbors follows the same rule.
| Late-fee cap · grace period | States |
|---|---|
| No state cap · 30 days | Massachusetts |
| Statutory formula · 9 days | Connecticut |
| No state cap · none | New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont |
| Statutory formula · 5 days | New York |
Other Massachusetts rules
| Security deposit limit | 1 month's rentM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b), (d) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after move-outM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4), (6)(e) |
| Entry notice | No statutory notice period. A lease may permit entry only to inspect, repair or show the unit to a prospective tenant, buyer or mortgagee; the landlord may also enter under court order, if the unit appears abandoned, or in the last 30 days of the tenancy to inspect for deposit damageM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(a) |
| Rent-increase notice | No state ruleM.G.L. c. 186, § 12 |
| Month-to-month termination | 30 days (either side)M.G.L. c. 186, § 12 |