New Jersey Late Fee Calculator

No cap no general late fee rule in the law we read; see the note below
Rent limit
None in N.J.S.A. 2A:18, 2A:42 and 46:8 (apart from two narrow rules); senior citizens and benefit recipients leases have a separate rule (below)
Earliest fee day
–
Statute
N.J.S.A. 2A:18, 2A:42 and 46:8 (apart from two narrow rules) (read on an unofficial copy)
Checked
What was not paid on time. Copies the rent until you type here.
How the lease sets the late fee
How many days the lease gives before a late fee; 0 if none.

Your late fee

$62.50

Paid 12 days late; the lease has no grace period.

Days past due
12 days
Grace period ends
No grace period
Earliest fee date
October 20, 2026
Lease late fee
5% of $1,250.00 = $62.50
Rent + late fee
$1,312.50

New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 2A:18, 2A:42 and 46:8 (apart from two narrow rules) contains no late fee provision, so there is no legal cap or waiting period to apply; only your lease terms count.

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]

Variable 4.5% / 6.5% (2026)
Max written B2B rate
16% written civil cap on paper — but corporate borrowers cannot plead usury and deals of $50,000+ are exempt; criminal ceiling 50% (entities) / 30% (individuals).
Cap regime
Hard cap — 50% criminal (entity)
Statute
N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11; N.J.S.A. 31:1-1, 31:1-6; 2C:21-19
Current rate source
official current-rate page
Verified
— how we verify · changelog

Post-judgment interest under Court Rule 4:42-11(a): the annual rate equals the average rate of return of the State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund (State accounts) for the preceding fiscal year, to the nearest whole or one-half percent, but not less than 0.25%; judgments exceeding the Special Civil Part monetary limit ($20,000) bear that rate plus 2% per annum. Set annually by AOC notice.

New Jersey's default (contract silent): variable. Published figure: 4.5% / 6.5% (2026) — see the note above for when it applies, confirm it on the official page, then enter the rate that applies (or your contract's rate).

Maximum late fee in New Jersey — written B2B contracts

Hard cap 50% criminal (entity).

Basis: N.J.S.A. 31:1-1(e), 31:1-6, 2C:21-19.

About this page

Senior citizens and benefit recipients in New Jersey

This protects senior citizens and benefit recipients only, meaning tenants who draw a Social Security old-age pension, a railroad retirement pension or a government pension that replaces Social Security, or who get Social Security Disability Benefits, SSI or Work First New Jersey benefits: rent due on the first of the month gets a five business day grace period, and a late charge may not include those days.

A person to whom rent is due and payable on the first of the month upon a lease or other agreement shall allow a period of five business days grace in which the rent due shall be paid. No delinquency or other late charge shall be made which includes the grace period of five business days. [...] The provisions of this act shall only be applicable to premises rented or leased by senior citizens receiving Social Security Old Age Pensions, Railroad Retirement Pensions or other governmental pensions in lieu of Social Security Old Age Pensions, and by recipients of Social Security Disability Benefits, Supplemental Security Income or benefits under Work First New Jersey.
— N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 2A:42-6.1, 2A:42-6.3. Read the copy on codes.findlaw.com (not the state's official site) · checked .

New Jersey rent late fee law

New Jersey's landlord and tenant statutes (Title 2A chapters 18 and 42, Title 46 chapter 8) contain no general late fee limit and no general grace period. Two narrow rules apply: senior citizens and benefit recipients get five business days of grace (below), and in an eviction for nonpayment, rent paid in full within three business days after a warrant for removal is posted cannot carry a late fee above the amount in the warrant application (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.16a).

Read in full for this check: New Jersey Statutes, Title 2A, chapter 18 (including the Anti-Eviction Act) and chapter 42 (Landlord and Tenant), and Title 46, chapter 8 (Landlord and Tenant). Copy read on law.justia.com (not the state's official site) · 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 New Jersey has its own rules for it. Nothing on this page is legal advice.

What the governing court rule says in New Jersey

(a) Post Judgment Interest. Except as otherwise ordered by the court or provided by law, judgments, awards and orders for the payment of money, taxed costs and attorney's fees shall bear simple interest as follows: [...] (ii) For judgments not exceeding the monetary limit of the Special Civil Part at the time of entry, regardless of the court in which the action was filed: commencing January 2, 1986 and for each calendar year thereafter, the annual rate of interest shall equal the average rate of return, to the nearest whole or one-half percent, for the corresponding preceding fiscal year terminating on June 30, of the State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund (State accounts) as reported by the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury, but the rate shall be not less than 0.25%. (iii) For judgments exceeding the monetary limit of the Special Civil Part at the time of entry: in the manner provided for in subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Rule until September 1, 1996; thereafter, at the rate provided in subparagraph (a)(ii) plus 2% per annum.
— N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11(a), (a)(ii), (a)(iii) (Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey, Rule 4:42-11 "Interest; Rate on Judgments; in Tort Actions"; paragraph (a)(ii) amended July 22, 2014 to be effective September 1, 2014). Read it at the official source · row verified 2026-08-21.

16% civil cap is unenforceable vs corporations/LLCs/LLPs, and deals $50k+ escape it, but criminal usury still caps B2B: 50%/yr to an entity, 30%/yr to an individual.

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