Tennessee Late Rent Fee Rules

What Tennessee law says

• For private rentals the grace period is 5 days counted from the due date.
• If the 5th day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, rent is due the next business day.
• The late fee cannot exceed 10% of the rent owed.
• The booklet for all other counties states no amount or limit and says to check the lease for late fees.

Steps for a landlord

• Check the county, since the two booklets differ.
• Put the late fee in the written lease.
• Do not charge a fee until after the 5 day grace period.
• Keep the fee at or below 10% of the rent owed.

What to put in the notice

• The lease clause that allows the late fee
• The rent due date and any grace period
• The late fee amount and the total now owed
• How and where the tenant can pay
• The date and your signature

Things to watch

• The page cites no statute section; confirm in the Tennessee Code or with a local attorney.
• Public housing and one county (Rutherford) are described with different rules.
• Cities and counties can add their own rules, including rent control and extra notice requirements. Check your local rules too.

About this page

We checked this page against the official sources listed below in November 2026. Where an official page did not say something, we say so. Laws change and courts read them differently, so confirm the current rule with the statute, the court or a local attorney before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.