Learn what a landlord may charge as a separate fee when a tenant writes a check for rent and it’s returned as unpaid [known as non-sufficient funds (NSF)]. Unlike retail merchants, landlords can easily enforce the collection of unpaid rent and bounced checks. Here’s what state laws say about how much you may charge for a returned check:
| State | Maximum Permissible Fee |
|
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $30 | |
| Alaska | $30 | |
| Arizona | $25 | |
| Arkansas | $25 | |
| California | $25 | |
| Colorado | $20 | |
| Connecticut | $20 | |
| Delaware | $40 | |
| District of Columbia | $20 | |
| Florida | $25 if check amount is < or = to $50 $30 if check amount is < or = to $300 $40 = if check amount is < or = to $800 5% of the check amount if > $800 |
|
| Georgia | $30 if check amount is < or = to $600 5% of the check amount if > $600 |
|
| Hawaii | $30 | |
| Idaho | $20 or amount of check, whichever is less | |
| Illinois | $25 | |
| Indiana | $20 | |
| Iowa | $30 | |
| Kansas | $30 | |
| Kentucky | $25 | |
| Louisiana | $25 if check amount is < or = to $500 5% of check amount if > $500 |
|
| Maine | $25 | |
| Maryland | $35 | |
| Massachusetts | $25 | |
| Michigan | $25 | |
| Minnesota | $30 | |
| Mississippi | $40 | |
| Missouri | $25 | |
| Montana | $30 | |
| Nebraska | $25 | |
| Nevada | $25 | |
| New Hampshire | $25 | |
| New Jersey | $25 | |
| New Mexico | $20 | |
| New York | $20 | |
| North Carolina | $25 | |
| North Dakota | $25 | |
| Ohio | $30 if check amount is < or = to $300 10% of check amount if > $300 |
|
| Oklahoma | $25 | |
| Oregon | $25 | |
| Pennsylvania | $25 | |
| Rhode Island | $25 | |
| South Carolina | $30 | |
| South Dakota | $30 | |
| Tennessee | $30 | |
| Texas | $30 | |
| Utah | $20 | |
| Vermont | $25 | |
| Virginia | $35 | |
| Washington | $25 | |
| West Virginia | $25 | |
| Wisconsin | $25 | |
| Wyoming | $30 |