Hawaii Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
Hawaii rules on rent increases & late fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No rent control in Hawaii; no limit on the amount of a rent increase. Notice of increase: at least 45 days for month-to-month tenancies, 15 days for shorter tenancies. HRS § 521-21(d)-(e); Office of Consumer Protection Landlord-Tenant Handbook
The rules in Hawaii
| Rent control / increase limits | No rent control in Hawaii; no limit on the amount of a rent increase. Notice of increase: at least 45 days for month-to-month tenancies, 15 days for shorter tenancies. |
|---|---|
| Late fees | Late charge may not exceed 8% of the rent due. No statutory grace period. Source: HRS § 521-21(f) |
Free calculators
- Late Fee Checker — Check a late fee against your state's cap and grace period.
- Rent Increase Calculator — In states with a statewide rent cap, see the most your rent can go up this year.
Related questions
- Can a landlord raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
Hawaii vs. neighboring states
| State | Rent control / increase limits | Late fees |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | No rent control in Hawaii; no limit on the amount of a rent increase. Notice of increase: at least 45 days for month-to-month tenancies, 15 days for shorter tenancies. HRS § 521-21(d)-(e); Office of Consumer Protection Landlord-Tenant Handbook | Late charge may not exceed 8% of the rent due. No statutory grace period. HRS § 521-21(f) |
| California | Statewide cap (AB 1482, Tenant Protection Act): within any 12 months, rent may rise by no more than 5% plus the local CPI change, or 10%, whichever is lower, in no more than two increments. Exemptions include housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the past 15 years, deed-restricted affordable housing, dorms, and qualifying single-family homes and condos not owned by a REIT, corporation, or corporate-member LLC, if the required exemption notice was given. Local rent control is allowed, within the limits of the Costa-Hawkins Act (Civ. Code § 1954.50 et seq.). Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12 | No statutory dollar cap or grace period. Late fees in residential leases are treated as liquidated damages, which are void unless it would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix the landlord's actual damages and the amount is a reasonable estimate of them. Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(c)(2), (d) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Hawaii rental law
- Hawaii Security Deposit Law
- Hawaii Eviction Laws
- Hawaii Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Hawaii
- Hawaii Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Breaking a Lease in Hawaii
- Squatters' Rights in Hawaii
- Hawaii Rental Fee Rules
- Hawaii Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Hawaii Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Hawaii Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Hawaii Landlord Selling the House
- Hawaii Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Hawaii Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Hawaii landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Hawaii
Compare rent increases & late fees in all 50 states and DC →
Hawaii Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws FAQ
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in Hawaii?
No rent control in Hawaii; no limit on the amount of a rent increase. Notice of increase: at least 45 days for month-to-month tenancies, 15 days for shorter tenancies. (HRS § 521-21(d)-(e); Office of Consumer Protection Landlord-Tenant Handbook)
Is there a limit on late fees in Hawaii?
Late charge may not exceed 8% of the rent due. No statutory grace period. (HRS § 521-21(f))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.