Pennsylvania Late Fee Law
No Pennsylvania 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
Pennsylvania late fee law at a glance
| Late-fee cap | No state cap68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (silent on late fees), PA AG Consumer Guide to Tenant and Landlord Rights, p. 6 |
|---|---|
| Grace period | No state grace period68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (silent on grace periods) |
| Notice before filing for unpaid rent | 10 days (10-day notice to quit)68 P.S. § 250.501(b), (e)-(f) |
What Pennsylvania law says
Is there a limit on late fees in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has no statute capping residential late fees, but the Attorney General advises that late fees should not be excessive and should bear a reasonable relation to the landlord's costs (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, 68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq., silent) (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (silent on late fees)).
Does Pennsylvania require a grace period before a late fee?
Pennsylvania law sets no grace period before a late fee may be charged, so the lease controls (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, 68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq., silent) (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (silent on grace periods)).
How much notice must a Pennsylvania landlord give for unpaid rent?
For unpaid rent, the landlord must serve a written notice to quit giving the tenant 10 days from service to leave before filing for eviction, unless the lease validly waives or shortens notice (68 P.S. § 250.501(b), (e)) (68 P.S. § 250.501(b), (e)-(f)).
How Pennsylvania compares
31 of 51 verified jurisdictions set no statutory cap. 14 require a grace period.
West Virginia follows the same rule as Pennsylvania; 5 of its 6 neighbors differ.
| Late-fee cap · grace period | States |
|---|---|
| No state cap · none | Pennsylvania, West Virginia |
| 5% of rent · 5 days | Delaware |
| Statutory formula · none | Maryland |
| No state cap · 5 days | New Jersey |
| Statutory formula · 5 days | New York |
| Reasonableness (case law) · none | Ohio |
Local rules in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia adds its own rules in Phila. Code ch. 9-800: landlords must give 30 days' written notice stating good cause to terminate or not renew leases shorter than one year (including month-to-month), and since Dec. 2025 tenants may pay a first-year deposit above one month's rent in installments (Bill 250044-A; landlords with 2 or fewer units exempt). Pittsburgh and other cities have rental registration/licensing rules.
Other Pennsylvania rules
| Security deposit limit | 2 months' rent (with exceptions)68 P.S. § 250.511a(a)-(b) (Landlord and Tenant Act § 511.1) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after the lease ends68 P.S. § 250.512(a), (c) |
| Entry notice | No state rule68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (silent on landlord entry), PA AG Consumer Guide, p. 10 (implied covenant of quiet enjoyment) |
| Rent-increase notice | No state rule68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (silent on rent-increase notice) |
| Month-to-month termination | 15 days (either side)68 P.S. § 250.501(a)-(b) |