North Carolina Rental Fee Rules
North Carolina rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statute. N.C. Gen. Stat. chapter 42 has no cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees. N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 42 (no application-fee section)
The rules in North Carolina
| Application / screening fees | No statute. N.C. Gen. Stat. chapter 42 has no cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees. Based on a full-text search of chapter 42. |
|---|---|
| Other rental fees | Fees tied to late payment and eviction are tightly limited. Late fee: only once rent is 5+ days late, max the greater of $15 or 5% of monthly rent (weekly: $4 or 5%), once per late payment. Only one administrative eviction fee may be charged per case, and only under a written lease: complaint-filing fee (greater of $15 or 5% of rent, only if the tenant cures and the case is dismissed), court-appearance fee (10% of rent), or second-trial fee (12% of rent). Any other administrative eviction fee is void. Recoverable out-of-pocket costs are limited to court filing fees, service costs, and attorney fees (capped at 15% in most cases). Renter's insurance: the tenant cannot be required to use a designated carrier. Force-placed coverage: actual cost plus at most $50 per year, only if the tenant fails to show proof within 3 business days. For subsidized rent, fees are figured on the tenant's share only. Amended by S.L. 2025-45, 2025-52, and 2025-54; the official text of subdivision (i)(4) appears garbled on ncleg.gov. No general rule on convenience or online-payment fees or total-cost disclosure. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46 |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
North Carolina vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | No statute. N.C. Gen. Stat. chapter 42 has no cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees. N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 42 (no application-fee section) | Fees tied to late payment and eviction are tightly limited. Late fee: only once rent is 5+ days late, max the greater of $15 or 5% of monthly rent (weekly: $4 or 5%), once per late payment. Only one administrative eviction fee may be charged per case, and only under a written lease: complaint-filing fee (greater of $15 or 5% of rent, only if the tenant cures and the case is dismissed), court-appearance fee (10% of rent), or second-trial fee (12% of rent). Any other administrative eviction fee is void. Recoverable out-of-pocket costs are limited to court filing fees, service costs, and attorney fees (capped at 15% in most cases). Renter's insurance: the tenant cannot be required to use a designated carrier. Force-placed coverage: actual cost plus at most $50 per year, only if the tenant fails to show proof within 3 business days. For subsidized rent, fees are figured on the tenant's share only. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46 |
| Georgia | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| South Carolina | No statute - no cap or refund rule for application/screening fees in the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. S.C. Code Title 27, Ch. 40 | No statute specifically limiting move-in, convenience or other rental fees; general unconscionability doctrine (27-40-230) and prohibited lease provisions (27-40-330) apply. S.C. Code 27-40-230; 27-40-330 |
| Tennessee | No statute - Tennessee has no cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees. T.C.A. Title 66, Chapter 28 | No general statute limiting move-in, convenience or other rental fees. The only statutory fee limit is on late fees in URLTA counties: none until after a 5-day grace period, and no more than 10% of the past-due rent. T.C.A. 66-28-201(d) |
| Virginia | Nonrefundable application fee capped at $50 ($32 for public housing or other HUD-regulated units), plus actual out-of-pocket third-party screening costs. A refundable application deposit may also be required; if the applicant does not rent, the excess over actual expenses must be refunded with an itemized list within 20 days (10 days if paid by cash or certified funds and the landlord rejected the application). Landlords must consider evidence that an applicant is a family-abuse victim to mitigate a low credit score. Starting July 1, 2027, before collecting any payment or information the landlord must disclose in writing or by posting the fees and whether refundable, selection criteria, automatic-denial criteria, the consumer reporting agency used, and the applicant's right to a free report copy and to dispute it. Va. Code § 55.1-1203 | Fee disclosure: beginning on the first page of the written lease, the landlord must itemize all charges that make up the security deposit, the rent due per payment period, and any one-time charges due before the start date or included in the first payment, under the statutory statement that no additional security deposits or rent may be charged unless listed or added by later addendum. Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 |
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
- North Carolina Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in North Carolina
- Squatters' Rights in North Carolina
- 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 rental fees in all 50 states and DC →
North Carolina Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in North Carolina?
No statute. N.C. Gen. Stat. chapter 42 has no cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees. (N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 42 (no application-fee section))
What rental fees are banned or limited in North Carolina?
Fees tied to late payment and eviction are tightly limited. Late fee: only once rent is 5+ days late, max the greater of $15 or 5% of monthly rent (weekly: $4 or 5%), once per late payment. Only one administrative eviction fee may be charged per case, and only under a written lease: complaint-filing fee (greater of $15 or 5% of rent, only if the tenant cures and the case is dismissed), court-appearance fee (10% of rent), or second-trial fee (12% of rent). Any other administrative eviction fee is void. Recoverable out-of-pocket costs are limited to court filing fees, service costs, and attorney fees (capped at 15% in most cases). Renter's insurance: the tenant cannot be required to use a designated carrier. Force-placed coverage: actual cost plus at most $50 per year, only if the tenant fails to show proof within 3 business days. For subsidized rent, fees are figured on the tenant's share only. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46)
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.