Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.177
LATE FEES.
Operative Text
(a) A landlord of a residential building may not charge a late fee if the rent is paid after the due date, unless the tenant and landlord have agreed in writing that a late fee may be imposed. The agreement must specify when the late fee will be imposed. In no case may the late fee exceed eight percent of the overdue rent payment. Any late fee charged or collected is not considered to be either interest or liquidated damages. For purposes of this paragraph, the "due date" does not include a date, earlier than the date contained in the written or oral lease by which, if the rent is paid, the tenant earns a discount. (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if a federal statute, regulation, or handbook permitting late fees for a tenancy subsidized under a federal program conflicts with paragraph (a), then the landlord may publish and implement a late payment fee schedule that complies with the federal statute, regulation, or handbook. (c) A late fee charged by a landlord who has entered into a housing assistance payments contract with the federal, state, or local government must be calculated and assessed only on the portion of rent payable by the tenant. For the purposes of this paragraph, "housing assistance payments contract" means programs described in United States Code, title 42, sections 1437f and 1485, as well as other programs under which the landlord contracts to receive rent from the tenant and also to receive payment from the government.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.177, Minnesota landlords are prohibited from charging late fees on overdue rent unless a written agreement with the tenant specifically authorizes them and states when they apply. Even when such an agreement exists, the late fee cannot exceed eight percent of the overdue rent amount. Special rules apply when a tenancy is subsidized through a federal program or when a landlord receives housing assistance payments from a government entity, in which case fees must align with federal requirements or be calculated only on the tenant's share of rent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.177 requires that any late fee arrangement be established in a written agreement that clearly identifies the triggering conditions before a fee can be assessed. Compliant operators ensure that no late fee exceeds eight percent of the overdue rent amount and, for federally subsidized units, follow the applicable federal statute, regulation, or handbook when those rules differ from state law. Landlords with housing assistance payments contracts calculate and apply late fees only against the portion of rent the tenant is personally responsible for paying.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.177 gives Minnesota residential tenants the right to be free from late fees unless they have signed a written agreement that explicitly permits them and describes when they kick in. If a landlord charges a late fee without such a written agreement, or charges more than eight percent of the overdue rent, that fee may be challengeable as a violation of this statute. Tenants who believe a late fee has been improperly charged can document the charge, review their lease for the required written authorization, and consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand 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 September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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