Connecticut Rent Late Fees: 2025 Complete Guide

By RentLateFee Legal Team • November 21, 2025 • 13 min read

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Connecticut's Tenant-Protective Late Fee Framework

Connecticut stands among the most tenant-protective states in the nation regarding rent late fees. Since October 1, 2023, new legislation under Public Act 23-67 has established strict caps: $5 per day with a $50 monthly maximum OR 5% of monthly rent, whichever is LESS. Combined with a mandatory 9-day grace period, Connecticut's framework significantly limits landlord discretion while providing tenants with clear, enforceable protections.

This comprehensive guide examines Connecticut's late fee laws, grace period requirements, eviction procedures, and compliance strategies for both landlords and tenants in 2025.

The "$5/Day Max $50 OR 5%, Whichever is LESS" Rule

Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-15a, as amended by Public Act 23-67 (effective October 1, 2023), establishes two alternative late fee caps. Landlords must charge whichever is LESS:

Option 1: Daily Fee with Monthly Cap

$5 per day maximum
$50 per month maximum total

Option 2: Percentage Fee

5% of monthly rent maximum

How the Calculation Works

Landlords must compare both options and charge whichever produces the LOWER fee:

Example 1: $800 Monthly Rent

Option 1: $5/day (up to $50 max)
Option 2: 5% of $800 = $40
Allowable fee: $40 (the lesser amount)

Example 2: $1,200 Monthly Rent

Option 1: $5/day (up to $50 max)
Option 2: 5% of $1,200 = $60
Allowable fee: $50 (the lesser amount, capped by daily option)

Example 3: $2,000 Monthly Rent

Option 1: $5/day (up to $50 max)
Option 2: 5% of $2,000 = $100
Allowable fee: $50 (the lesser amount, capped by daily option)

Breakpoint: At exactly $1,000 monthly rent, 5% equals $50, so both options produce the same maximum fee of $50.

Practical Impact

For most Connecticut rentals, the effective maximum late fee is $50, regardless of rent amount, due to the "whichever is less" requirement. This protects tenants in high-rent areas from excessive percentage-based fees.

Source: Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-15a, Public Act 23-67

Mandatory 9-Day Grace Period

Connecticut law requires landlords to provide a minimum 9-day grace period before charging any late fees. This is one of the longest grace periods in the United States.

How It Works

Under C.G.S. § 47a-15a:

Rent due: 1st of the month
Grace period: Days 1-9
Late fees can begin: Day 10

Example:

Rent due: October 1
Grace period ends: October 9
Tenant pays: October 12
Days late for fee calculation: 3 days (Oct 10-12)
Late fee (if using daily option): $5 × 3 = $15

Important Notes

The 9-day grace period is mandatory and cannot be shortened
Landlords can offer longer grace periods (e.g., 15 days) but not shorter
Any lease provision attempting to reduce the grace period is void and unenforceable
Weekends and holidays count toward the 9-day period

Source: C.G.S. § 47a-15a

Eviction Process and Late Fees

Summary Process (Eviction) for Nonpayment

Under C.G.S. § 47a-23, Connecticut landlords can begin eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent by serving a Notice to Quit and then filing a Summary Process action in court.

Can Late Fees Be Included?

Connecticut law does not explicitly address whether late fees can be included in Summary Process actions. However, best practice is to:

Exclude late fees from the Notice to Quit to avoid disputes
Focus eviction solely on unpaid rent
Pursue late fees separately through security deposit deductions or small claims court

Including disputed late fees in eviction proceedings can give tenants grounds to challenge the action, potentially delaying the process.

Source: C.G.S. § 47a-23

Security Deposit Deductions

Under C.G.S. § 47a-21, Connecticut landlords can deduct unpaid late fees from security deposits, but must:

Provide an itemized statement within 30 days of tenant move-out (or within 15 days if no deductions are made)
Include documentation proving fees were properly charged per lease terms and state law
Return any remaining deposit with the statement

Failure to comply can result in the tenant recovering:

Double the security deposit amount
Attorney's fees and court costs

Source: C.G.S. § 47a-21

Key Connecticut Statutes

Landlords and tenants should reference:

C.G.S. § 47a-15a: Late fee limits ($5/day max $50 OR 5%, whichever is less) and 9-day grace period
Public Act 23-67: 2023 legislation establishing current late fee framework (effective Oct 1, 2023)
C.G.S. § 47a-21: Security deposit requirements (30-day deadline)
C.G.S. § 47a-23: Summary Process (eviction) procedures
C.G.S. § 47a-4: Landlord obligations and implied warranty of habitability

Connecticut's comprehensive landlord-tenant statutes provide strong protections for renters statewide.

Landlord Best Practices

1. Draft Compliant Lease Language

Include explicit late fee provisions stating:

Fee amount using the "lesser of" formula
9-day grace period minimum
Clear disclosure of Connecticut's statutory limits

Sample Clause: "Rent is due on the 1st of each month. Tenant has a 9-day grace period as required by Connecticut law. If rent is not received by the 9th, a late fee will be charged equal to the LESSER of: (a) $5 per day up to a maximum of $50 per month, or (b) 5% of monthly rent. This late fee structure complies with Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-15a."

2. Choose Your Fee Structure

Landlords can select either daily fees or percentage fees, but must always charge whichever is less:

Daily Fee Approach:

Simple to calculate: $5 × days late
Capped at $50 per month
Works well for all rent levels

Percentage Approach:

5% of monthly rent
Only advantageous for rent under $1,000
Must still respect $50 cap when daily option would be lower

3. Provide Written Notice of Late Fees

When charging fees, send documentation showing:

Original rent due date
Grace period expiration (9 days from due date)
Late fee calculation (showing both options and which is less)
New total balance

4. Maintain Detailed Records

Document all aspects of late fee policies:

Signed lease with compliant fee provisions
Payment logs showing exact dates
Copies of all late fee notices sent
Communication history with tenants

5. Focus Evictions on Unpaid Rent

To avoid complications, exclude late fees from Summary Process actions and pursue them separately.

Tenant Rights and Protections

Right to Challenge Excessive Fees

Connecticut tenants can dispute late fees exceeding statutory limits by:

Written Notice: Inform landlord that fees violate C.G.S. § 47a-15a
Payment Under Protest: Pay while reserving right to contest
Small Claims Court: Sue for refund (up to $5,000 in Connecticut)
Security Deposit Challenge: Contest improper deductions
Legal Aid: Connecticut Legal Services provides free assistance to qualifying tenants

Protection from Retaliation

C.G.S. § 47a-20 prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants for:

Complaining to government agencies about property conditions
Exercising legal rights
Organizing tenant associations
Testifying in court

Retaliatory actions include increasing late fees or imposing fees selectively.

Warranty of Habitability

Connecticut's strong implied warranty of habitability (C.G.S. § 47a-7) allows tenants to withhold rent for serious habitability violations. However, proper notice procedures must be followed to avoid late fee obligations.

Example Late Fee Calculations

Scenario 1: $700 Monthly Rent, 9-Day Grace, 5 Days Late

Rent due: January 1
Grace period ends: January 9
Tenant pays: January 14
Days late: 5 (Jan 10-14)
Option 1: $5 × 5 = $25
Option 2: $700 × 5% = $35
Allowable fee: $25 (the lesser amount)
Total owed: $725

Scenario 2: $1,500 Monthly Rent, 9-Day Grace, 8 Days Late

Rent due: February 1
Grace period ends: February 9
Tenant pays: February 17
Days late: 8 (Feb 10-17)
Option 1: $5 × 8 = $40 (capped at $50)
Option 2: $1,500 × 5% = $75
Allowable fee: $40 (the lesser amount)
Total owed: $1,540

Scenario 3: $2,000 Monthly Rent, 9-Day Grace, 15 Days Late

Rent due: March 1
Grace period ends: March 9
Tenant pays: March 24
Days late: 15 (Mar 10-24)
Option 1: $5 × 15 = $75, but capped at $50
Option 2: $2,000 × 5% = $100
Allowable fee: $50 (the lesser amount, due to monthly cap)
Total owed: $2,050

Scenario 4: $900 Monthly Rent, 9-Day Grace, 12 Days Late

Rent due: April 1
Grace period ends: April 9
Tenant pays: April 21
Days late: 12 (Apr 10-21)
Option 1: $5 × 12 = $60, but capped at $50
Option 2: $900 × 5% = $45
Allowable fee: $45 (the lesser amount)
Total owed: $945

Common Mistakes to Avoid

For Landlords:

Charging fees before 9-day grace expires: Violates C.G.S. § 47a-15a
Exceeding statutory limits: Charging more than the lesser of $5/day ($50 cap) or 5%
Using "whichever is greater" instead of "whichever is less": Connecticut requires the LESSER amount
Failing to apply monthly cap on daily fees: Daily fees cannot exceed $50/month
Including late fees in eviction notices: Creates disputes and delays
Shortening grace period below 9 days: Any such provision is void
Failing to itemize security deposit deductions: Can result in double damages

For Tenants:

Paying fees exceeding statutory limits: Know your rights under C.G.S. § 47a-15a
Assuming grace period is shorter: Connecticut guarantees 9 days
Not documenting late payments: Keep records of payment dates and amounts
Failing to challenge improper fees: Dispute excessive fees in writing promptly
Withholding all rent due to fee disputes: Can lead to eviction; dispute fees separately

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the maximum late fee in Connecticut?

A: Connecticut caps late fees at the LESSER of $5/day (max $50/month) OR 5% of monthly rent. For most rentals, the effective maximum is $50.

Q: Is a grace period required in Connecticut?

A: Yes. Connecticut requires a minimum 9-day grace period before late fees can be charged (C.G.S. § 47a-15a).

Q: When did Connecticut's new late fee law take effect?

A: Public Act 23-67 took effect October 1, 2023. All leases must comply with the new limits regardless of when they were signed.

Q: Can my landlord charge $5 per day indefinitely?

A: No. Daily fees are capped at $50 per month. After 10 days late, the fee maxes out at $50 for that rental period.

Q: What if my lease says the late fee is 10% of rent?

A: That provision violates Connecticut law and is void and unenforceable. The statutory maximum (lesser of $5/day capped at $50 or 5%) overrides conflicting lease language.

Q: Can my landlord evict me for unpaid late fees?

A: While not explicitly prohibited, best practice is for landlords to exclude late fees from eviction proceedings. Late fees should be pursued through security deposit deductions or small claims court.

Q: What if I disagree with a late fee?

A: Notify your landlord in writing that the fee exceeds statutory limits. You can pay under protest and sue in small claims court for a refund, or contest the fee if the landlord tries to deduct it from your security deposit.

Conclusion

Connecticut's tenant-protective late fee framework provides clear, enforceable limits that benefit both landlords and tenants. The "whichever is less" requirement combined with the 9-day grace period ensures fees remain reasonable while giving tenants ample time to pay rent without penalties.

Key Takeaways:

Late fees capped at the LESSER of $5/day (max $50/month) OR 5% of monthly rent
9-day grace period required by law
Effective maximum fee is $50 for most rentals
New law effective October 1, 2023 (Public Act 23-67)
30-day deadline for security deposit itemization
Double damages for improper deposit deductions

Use the RentLateFee.com calculator to verify Connecticut late fee compliance and ensure your fees align with C.G.S. § 47a-15a. Whether setting landlord policies or checking tenant charges, understanding these rules protects your rights and prevents costly legal disputes.

Last Updated: November 2025. Consult with a Connecticut-licensed attorney for specific legal advice.

🔗 Related State Guides

Understanding late fee regulations in neighboring states can help you compare different approaches and understand regional trends. Here are related state guides:

Additional Resources

Rent Late Fee Calculator - Calculate your state's legal maximum
Rent Grace Period Laws by State - Compare grace period requirements
Security Deposit Laws - Understand deposit regulations