Mississippi Late Fee Law
No Mississippi statute caps residential late fees or requires a grace period; the lease sets both.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Mississippi late fee law at a glance
| Late-fee cap | No state capMiss. Code Ann. Title 89, ch. 8, Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (silent on late fees) (2024 H.B. 1580 text) |
|---|---|
| Grace period | No state grace periodMiss. Code Ann. Title 89, ch. 8 (silent on grace periods) (2024 H.B. 1580 text) |
| Notice before filing for unpaid rent | 3 days (3-day notice to pay rent or terminate)Miss. Code §§ 89-8-13(5), 89-8-31, 89-8-33 (2022 SB 2461, §§ 1-2, 10), Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-13 (2024 H.B. 1580 text) |
Notice before filing for unpaid rent
- In effect since .
What Mississippi law says
Is there a limit on late fees in Mississippi?
Mississippi has no statute capping residential late fees, though courts may refuse to enforce an unreasonable fee (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-1 et seq.) (Miss. Code Ann. Title 89, ch. 8, Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (silent on late fees) (2024 H.B. 1580 text)).
Does Mississippi require a grace period before a late fee?
Mississippi law sets no grace period before a late fee may be charged; the lease controls (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-1 et seq.) (Miss. Code Ann. Title 89, ch. 8 (silent on grace periods) (2024 H.B. 1580 text)).
How much notice must a Mississippi landlord give for unpaid rent?
For unpaid rent, give written notice (or email or text if the tenant agreed in writing) that the rental agreement will end unless rent is paid within 3 days, and attach a copy of that notice when you file for eviction (Miss. Code §§ 89-8-13(5)(a), 89-8-33) (Miss. Code §§ 89-8-13(5), 89-8-31, 89-8-33 (2022 SB 2461, §§ 1-2, 10)).
How Mississippi compares
31 of 51 verified jurisdictions set no statutory cap. 14 require a grace period.
Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana follow the same rule as Mississippi; 1 of its 4 neighbors differs.
Other Mississippi rules
| Security deposit limit | No state capMiss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 (no amount limit) (2024 H.B. 1580 text) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 45 days after the triggering eventMiss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3) (2024 H.B. 1580 text) |
| Entry notice | No state ruleMiss. Code Ann. Title 89, ch. 8 (no entry provision) (2024 H.B. 1580 text) |
| Rent-increase notice | No state ruleMiss. Code Ann. § 89-8-17(2) (2024 H.B. 1580 text), Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-19(3) |
| Month-to-month termination | 30 days (either side)Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-19(3) (as amended by 2022 SB 2461, § 11), Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-19 (2024 H.B. 1580 text) |