Does Tennessee require a grace period for late fees?

Yes, Tennessee law requires a 5-day grace period (Tenn. Code § 66-28-201(d) (URLTA counties)). No late fee can be charged during this period.

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Tennessee Late Fee Calculator

Q: What is the maximum late fee in Tennessee?

The statutory maximum late fee in Tennessee is $150.00 on a rent of $1,500.00 — 10% of the amount past due (Tenn. Code § 66-28-201(d) (URLTA counties)). 5-day grace period — the due date counts as day one, and if day 5 is a Sunday or legal holiday the fee may not be charged until after the next business day. Max 10% of the AMOUNT PAST DUE. Applies in URLTA counties (most large TN counties).

Calculate the maximum late fee you can legally charge in Tennessee. Check grace periods, fee caps, and compliance with Tennessee state law.

State

Monthly Rent

Days Late

Your Proposed Fee

Your Late Fee

$75.00

Compliant

Your proposed fee of $75.00 is within Tennessee's statutory maximum of $150.00 (10% of the amount past due).

Rent + Fee

$1,575.00

Grace Period

5 days (required)

Statutory Maximum in Tennessee

$150.00

Tennessee Late Fee Law

Grace period: 5 days (required by law)

Fee cap: $150.00 — 10% of the amount past due

Daily fees: Not typical

Statute: Tenn. Code § 66-28-201(d) (URLTA counties)

5-day grace period — the due date counts as day one, and if day 5 is a Sunday or legal holiday the fee may not be charged until after the next business day. Max 10% of the AMOUNT PAST DUE. Applies in URLTA counties (most large TN counties).

Laws change quietly. Colorado rewrote its late-fee rules in 2021, Connecticut in 2023. Get an email when Tennessee changes its rules — and what to update in your lease.

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Next Step

Generate the late fee notice

Turn this calculation into a printable, Tennessee-compliant notice you can send to your tenant today — with the statute reference included.

Your Name (Landlord)

Tenant Name

Property Address

Rent Due Date

Fill in the four fields above to generate your notice.

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Tennessee Late Fee Rules for Landlords

Tennessee requires a 5-day grace period before any late fee can be charged (Tenn. Code § 66-28-201(d) (URLTA counties)). The late fee is capped by statute at 10% of the amount past due (Tenn. Code § 66-28-201(d) (URLTA counties)).

Use the calculator above to check if your proposed late fee complies with Tennessee law. Need more tools? Check the Tennessee security deposit calculator, or try our prorated rent calculator and rent estimate tool.

For a complete guide to Tennessee landlord-tenant law, read our Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Law 2026 guide.