District of Columbia Late Fee Calculator

5% most a lease may charge as a late fee
Rent limit
5% of the monthly rent
Earliest fee day
Day 6 after the due date
Statute
D.C. Code § 42-3505.31
Checked
What was not paid on time. Copies the rent until you type here.
How the lease sets the late fee
Pre-filled with the District of Columbia limit; type the figure from your lease.
District of Columbia lets a fee start on day 6, so this box starts at 5 days; typing less will not move that day.

Your late fee

$62.50

At the legal limit

Paid 12 days late, after the 5-day grace period.

The lease asks for $62.50, exactly the most D.C. Code § 42-3505.31 permits on these figures.

Days past due
12 days
Grace period ends
October 24, 2026
Earliest fee date
October 25, 2026
Lease late fee
5% of $1,250.00 = $62.50
Legal maximum
$62.50
Rent + late fee
$1,312.50

Limit set by District of Columbia (5% of the monthly rent): $62.50

5% × $1,250.00 monthly rent = $62.50

District of Columbia, earliest legal fee date: October 25, 2026

Late rent notice builder

Who it is from and to
Amounts
Taken from the calculator. Set 0 if the rent itself is paid.
Taken from the result; you may change it.
Adds the two above until you type your own figure.
Blank: the letter asks for payment at the earliest opportunity.
Payment and contact
Where and how the tenant can pay.
Late rent notice

[Your name or company]

Date: October 31, 2026

To: [Tenant name]

[Rental property address]

Re: Overdue rent for [Rental property address]

Dear [Tenant name],

This letter is a reminder that the rent of $1,250.00 for [Rental property address] was due on October 19, 2026. As of October 31, 2026, $1,250.00 of it is still unpaid (12 days past due).

Your lease provides for a late charge, which comes to $62.50.

Amount now due

Unpaid rent
$1,250.00
Late charge
$62.50
Total
$1,312.50

Please pay $1,312.50 at your earliest opportunity.

If this letter crossed with your payment, please disregard it.

Regards,

[Your name or company]

6% legal default rate (contract silent)
Max written B2B rate
24% written cap — but business-purpose loans over $2,500 are fully exempt (any agreed rate).
Cap regime
Conditional cap — 24% (deals $2,500 or less)
Statute
D.C. Code §§ 28-3301, 28-3302, 15-108
Verified
— how we verify · changelog

Default absent an expressed rate; on liquidated debts interest runs from the due date.

Pre-filled with District of Columbia's statutory default (6%), which governs only when the contract names no rate; a rate stated in your contract replaces it.

Interest at 6% a year

Interest owed on an overdue invoice in District of Columbia at 6% per year
Invoice amount30 days late60 days late90 days late
$1,000.00$4.93$9.86$14.79
$5,000.00$24.66$49.32$73.97
$10,000.00$49.32$98.63$147.95

Maximum late fee in District of Columbia — written B2B contracts

Conditional cap 24% (deals $2,500 or less).

Basis: D.C. Code § 28-3301(a),(d)(1)(B).

About this page

District of Columbia rent late fee law

District of Columbia: the late fee is capped at 5% of the full rent due, needs a written lease that states the maximum, applies only when the rent is still unpaid more than 5 days after it was due (or past any longer grace period in the lease), and can be charged once per late payment.

(a) Pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, a housing provider may charge a late fee of no more than 5% of the full amount of rent due by a tenant. (b) A housing provider may only charge a late fee: (1) If the written lease agreement between the housing provider and the tenant informs the tenant of the maximum amount of the late fee that may be charged pursuant to this section; and (2) If the tenant has not paid the full amount of rent within 5 days, or any longer grace period that may be provided in the lease, after the day the rent payment is due. (c) A housing provider shall not: [...] (3) Impose a late fee more than one time on each late payment;
— D.C. Code § 42-3505.31(a)-(c). Read it at the official source · checked .

Before you send the late rent notice: it is a reminder letter about overdue rent and a late charge, not an eviction notice. A notice to pay rent or quit is a separate document, and District of Columbia has its own rules for it. Nothing on this page is legal advice.

What District of Columbia law says about invoice interest

The rate of interest in the District upon the loan or forbearance of money, goods, or things in action in the absence of expressed contract, is 6% per annum.
— D.C. Code § 28-3302(a). Read it at the official source · row verified 2026-08-19.

24% written cap, but a business-purpose loan OVER $2,500 (not home-secured) may carry any rate. At/under $2,500 the 24% cap applies.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, section 28-3308, and chapter 36 of this subtitle, the parties to an instrument in writing for the payment of money at a future time may contract therein for the payment of interest on the principal amount thereof at a rate not exceeding 24% per annum. [...] (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter: (1) any loan, except a loan which is secured directly or indirectly by a mortgage or deed of trust on residential real property [...] where the borrower receives the use of an amount in excess of $2,500 shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter and it shall be lawful to contract for, or receive, any rate of interest thereon if any of the following conditions are satisfied: [...] (B) the borrower is an individual, group of individuals, corporation, unincorporated association, partnership, or other entity, and the loan is made for the purpose of acquiring or carrying on a business, professional, or commercial activity
— D.C. Code § 28-3301(a), (d)(1)(B). Read it at the official source · verified .

Not legal advice. Figures were last verified on the date shown; check the cited statute before charging a late fee.