Operative Text
A landlord may not impose a late charge unless the amount of the late charge is specified in the lease. A tenant shall not be subject to a late charge if the envelope containing the payment is postmarked on or prior to the date payment is due.
Under Urbana Ch. 12.5 § 12.5-13, a landlord is only permitted to charge a late fee if the lease agreement explicitly states the amount of that fee. Additionally, a payment is considered on time as long as the envelope carrying it bears a postmark on or before the due date, meaning a tenant cannot be penalized solely because the payment arrived after the deadline.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 12.5-13, compliant operators include the specific dollar amount of any late charge directly in the written lease before attempting to collect such a fee. Operators also recognize that a mailed payment postmarked by the due date is treated as timely, so they do not assess late charges based solely on the date a payment is received in hand. Reviewing lease language to confirm that late-charge amounts are clearly and explicitly stated is a standard practice for operators seeking to comply with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 12.5-13 of Urbana's Landlord-Tenant Relationships ordinance gives tenants two important protections: a landlord cannot impose any late fee that was not spelled out as a specific amount in the lease, and a payment mailed with a postmark on or before the due date cannot be treated as late. Tenants who believe a late charge was improperly assessed—either because no amount was specified in the lease or because their payment was postmarked on time—may consider raising this provision as a defense or filing a complaint with a local housing authority. Consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Urbana's ordinances can help clarify available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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