North Carolina requires written notice before landlords can collect late fees

Original title: Notice Requirements for Landlord Fees.

Last action · April 14, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Tim Longest and 9 others

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Floor Vote

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What This Bill Would Do

North Carolina landlords must provide written notice to tenants prior to collecting any late fee starting October 1, 2025. The notice must be delivered by hand, mail, or agreed electronic means and state the fee amount and imposition date. Late fees remain capped at $15 or 5% of monthly rent, or $4 or 5% of weekly rent, and can only be charged once per late payment after a five-day grace period.

Why it matters

Residential tenants gain a mandatory advance notification requirement before any late fee can be collected, while landlords must alter their billing practices to deliver written warnings detailing fee amounts and dates for all overdue rent collected on or after October 1, 2025.

Background

North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 42 governs landlord and tenant relations, including authorized fees and rental agreements. context
House Bill 990 was introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly during the 2025 session by Representative Longest. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

residential tenants

Residential tenants must receive written notice prior to the collection of any late fee by their landlord.

Directly affected

lessors

Lessors are required to provide written notice by hand, mail, or electronic means before collecting any late fee from a lessee.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the new landlord notification rule take effect?

The act becomes effective on October 1, 2025, and applies to all late fees imposed on or after that date.

How must landlords deliver the late fee notice?

The notice must be delivered by hand, by mail, or by electronic means as agreed upon in the residential rental agreement.

What information must be included in the late fee notice?

The notice must inform the that a late fee will be or has been assessed for a past due payment, specify the fee amount, and state the date it was imposed if already assessed.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

3 actions

Apr 14, 2025House
Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 14, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Apr 10, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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