Vermont Late Fee Law
No Vermont 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
Vermont late fee law at a glance
| Late-fee cap | No state cap9 V.S.A. Chapter 137 (no late-fee provision; read in full), 9 V.S.A. § 4455(a) (rent payable at time and place agreed) |
|---|---|
| Grace period | No state grace period9 V.S.A. § 4455(a) |
| Notice before filing for unpaid rent | 14 days (14-day notice of termination for nonpayment)9 V.S.A. § 4467(a) |
What Vermont law says
Is there a limit on late fees in Vermont?
Vermont sets no statutory cap on residential late fees; a late fee should be written into the lease and reasonably related to the landlord's cost of collection rather than a penalty, and lease terms that circumvent the chapter are void (9 V.S.A. §§ 4454, 4455) (9 V.S.A. Chapter 137 (no late-fee provision; read in full)).
Does Vermont require a grace period before a late fee?
Vermont law sets no grace period before a late fee may be charged; rent is due at the time agreed in the lease (9 V.S.A. § 4455(a)).
How much notice must a Vermont landlord give for unpaid rent?
To end a tenancy for unpaid rent, give actual notice of a termination date at least 14 days away; the tenancy does not end if the tenant pays or tenders the rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made (9 V.S.A. § 4467(a)).
How Vermont compares
31 of 51 verified jurisdictions set no statutory cap. 14 require a grace period.
New Hampshire follows the same rule as Vermont; 2 of its 3 neighbors differ.
| Late-fee cap · grace period | States |
|---|---|
| No state cap · none | Vermont, New Hampshire |
| No state cap · 30 days | Massachusetts |
| Statutory formula · 5 days | New York |
Local rules in Vermont
9 V.S.A. § 4461(g) lets towns adopt security-deposit ordinances that add to (but cannot weaken) the state rules, including requiring interest and letting a local housing board of review hear deposit disputes. Burlington and Barre are reported to have such ordinances (e.g., interest on deposits and Housing Board hearings); check the local code.
Other Vermont rules
| Security deposit limit | No state cap9 V.S.A. § 4461 (no amount limit) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 14 days after move-out9 V.S.A. § 4461(c), (d) |
| Entry notice | 48 hours' notice9 V.S.A. § 4460 |
| Rent-increase notice | 60 days (The increase takes effect on the first day of the rental period following at least 60 days' actual notice. Certain privately owned age-restricted housing: written notice to residents and the Department of Housing and Community Development at least 60 days before the effective date, or the increase is unenforceable (§ 4468a). Burlington ordinance reported to require longer notice (ACCD: 3 rental periods))9 V.S.A. § 4455(b), 9 V.S.A. § 4468a |
| Month-to-month termination | Landlord 60 days · tenant 30 days9 V.S.A. § 4467(c), (e), (f), (h), 9 V.S.A. § 4456(d) |