North Carolina Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
North Carolina 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: Statewide preemption: counties and cities may not regulate the amount of rent for privately owned residential or commercial rental property. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1
The rules in North Carolina
| Rent control / increase limits | Statewide preemption: counties and cities may not regulate the amount of rent for privately owned residential or commercial rental property. Amended by S.L. 2024-47 to also bar local ordinances prohibiting landlords from refusing tenants whose rent includes federal housing assistance (source-of-income). Exceptions: government-owned property, subsidized-housing agreements, CDBG-assisted properties, and properties receiving local funding/incentives. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1 |
|---|---|
| Late fees | May be charged only if rent is 5 or more calendar days late. Monthly rent: max of $15 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is greater. Weekly rent: max of $4 or 5% of weekly rent, whichever is greater. Only one late fee per late payment. § 42-46 also caps administrative eviction fees (complaint-filing $15 or 5%; court-appearance 10% of monthly rent) and lease-based attorney's fees at 15% of the amount owed. Section amended in 2024 and 2025 (S.L. 2024-47, 2025-45, 2025-52, 2025-54). Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46(a)-(b) |
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?
North Carolina vs. neighboring states
| State | Rent control / increase limits | Late fees |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | Statewide preemption: counties and cities may not regulate the amount of rent for privately owned residential or commercial rental property. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1 | May be charged only if rent is 5 or more calendar days late. Monthly rent: max of $15 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is greater. Weekly rent: max of $4 or 5% of weekly rent, whichever is greater. Only one late fee per late payment. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46(a)-(b) |
| Georgia | Local rent control is preempted. No county or city may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution regulating the rent charged for privately owned single-family or multi-unit residential rental property. Exceptions: property the local government (or its authority) owns, and voluntary agreements with private persons that regulate rent. No statewide rent cap. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-19 | No statutory cap or grace period identified. Georgia statutes treat late fees as charges a landlord may collect: they may be demanded in the 3-business-day pay-or-vacate notice and deducted from the security deposit. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50(c) (as amended by HB 404, 2024); O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34(a) |
| South Carolina | No statewide rent cap. Counties and municipalities are prohibited from enacting, maintaining or enforcing rent control on privately owned residential property. S.C. Code § 27-39-60 | No statutory cap or grace period. None in Title 27, Ch. 40 |
| Tennessee | Prohibited statewide: local governments may not enact, maintain or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would control the rent charged for private residential or commercial property. Local mandatory below-market (inclusionary) housing requirements are also barred, but voluntary incentive programs are allowed. T.C.A. 66-35-102 | URLTA counties: no late fee may be charged until after a 5-day grace period, counting the due date as day 1. If the last day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, no fee may be charged if rent is paid the next business day. Late fees may not exceed 10% of the past-due rent. Non-URLTA counties: no statute caps late fees or sets a grace period; the lease governs. T.C.A. 66-28-201(d); ch. 66-7 (checked) |
| Virginia | No statewide rent control or rent-increase cap, and no Virginia statute authorizes local rent control. Va. Code Title 55.1, Ch. 12 (no cap); 2026 HB 278 / SB 355 | Only if provided in the written rental agreement; capped at the lesser of 10% of the periodic rent or 10% of the remaining balance due. Where there is no written lease, rent is late if not paid by the 5th of the month. Va. Code 55.1-1204(E), (C) |
City rules that may add to state law
More North Carolina rental law
- North Carolina Security Deposit Law
- North Carolina Eviction Laws
- North Carolina Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in North Carolina
- North Carolina Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Breaking a Lease in North Carolina
- Squatters' Rights in North Carolina
- North Carolina Rental Fee Rules
- North Carolina Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- North Carolina Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- North Carolina Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- North Carolina Landlord Selling the House
- North Carolina Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- North Carolina Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All North Carolina landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in North Carolina
Compare rent increases & late fees in all 50 states and DC →
North Carolina Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws FAQ
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in North Carolina?
Statewide preemption: counties and cities may not regulate the amount of rent for privately owned residential or commercial rental property. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1)
Is there a limit on late fees in North Carolina?
May be charged only if rent is 5 or more calendar days late. Monthly rent: max of $15 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is greater. Weekly rent: max of $4 or 5% of weekly rent, whichever is greater. Only one late fee per late payment. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46(a)-(b))
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.