How does Minnesota compare with other states?

Among the 31 states we have verified, 24 require less notice (3 of them none at all), 5 others use the same 14 days as Minnesota, and none require a longer one. Among states that require a notice, the median is 7 days. Minnesota is in the minority with a statutory limit. 12 of the 31 verified states cap late fees by statute, and 10 set a grace period before one can be charged. Figures for states we have not verified yet are left out of these counts.

Minnesota Late Rent Laws (2026): Notice, Grace & Late Fees

Q: How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Minnesota?

The rule in Minnesota (Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a): 14-day written notice (personal delivery or first-class mail) with statutory content, or a longer local notice period. If rent is still unpaid once that period has run, the landlord can file an eviction case.

Q: Is there a grace period for late rent in Minnesota?

We found no statewide statute that sets a grace period in Minnesota. A late fee requires a written agreement stating when it is imposed and may not exceed 8% of the overdue payment; no statutory grace period (Minn. Stat. § 504B.177).

Q: How much can a landlord charge as a late fee in Minnesota?

8% of the overdue rent payment (Minn. Stat. § 504B.177). A late fee requires a written agreement stating when it is imposed and may not exceed 8% of the overdue payment; no statutory grace period. On a $1,500 monthly rent left entirely unpaid, that works out to $120.

Q: Can a landlord evict for late rent in Minnesota?

Yes, for rent that remains unpaid, once the notice step is done: 14-day written notice (personal delivery or first-class mail) with statutory content, or a longer local notice period (Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a).

Q: Does federal law change the notice for unpaid rent in Minnesota?

It can. At "covered properties" under the federal CARES Act (generally those with a federally backed mortgage or federal subsidies), a 30-day notice to vacate for nonpayment is required in every state. Local ordinances can also be stricter than Minnesota's statute.

The Minnesota timeline, with dates

Here is the order of events when rent due on the 1st goes unpaid, using Minnesota's numbers and an example notice served on the 5th.

The 1stRent is due (the example due date used throughout this page).
Late feeA late fee requires a written agreement stating when it is imposed and may not exceed 8% of the overdue payment; no statutory grace period.
The 5th (example)You serve the notice: 14-day written notice (personal delivery or first-class mail) with statutory content, or a longer local notice period (Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a).
Not before the 19thThe 14-day period runs out. The exact last day depends on how the statute counts days and on how the notice was delivered.
Earliest filingIf rent is still unpaid once the notice period has fully run, you can file an eviction case.

The dates are the earliest the numbers allow, not a promise: how days are counted, weekends, and the way the notice is delivered can all push them later. Read Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a before you serve anything.

The notice for unpaid rent

14-day written notice (personal delivery or first-class mail) with statutory content, or a longer local notice period. Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a

Among the 31 states we have verified, 24 require less notice (3 of them none at all), 5 others use the same 14 days as Minnesota, and none require a longer one. Among states that require a notice, the median is 7 days.

Late fees and the grace period

A late fee requires a written agreement stating when it is imposed and may not exceed 8% of the overdue payment; no statutory grace period. Minn. Stat. § 504B.177

Statutory limit: 8% of the overdue rent payment.

Monthly rent	Maximum late fee
$1,000	$80
$1,500	$120
$2,500	$200

Assumes the whole month's rent is unpaid and the lease provides for a late fee.

Minnesota is in the minority with a statutory limit. 12 of the 31 verified states cap late fees by statute, and 10 set a grace period before one can be charged.

What else to know in Minnesota

Notes from our review: The court must dismiss (and expunge) a nonpayment case filed without the required notice attached. For subsidized tenancies the fee is computed on the tenant's share only.

Cities and counties can add their own rules on top of the state’s. At “covered properties” under the federal CARES Act — generally those with a federally backed mortgage or federal subsidies — a 30-day notice to vacate for nonpayment is required in every state.

Minnesota and its neighbors

State	Notice	Grace period	Late-fee cap	Source
Minnesota	14 days	None statewide	8% of rent	Verified
Iowa	3 days	None statewide	Statutory cap (see guide)	Verified
North Dakota	3 days	None statewide	No statutory cap	Verified
South Dakota	No pre-filing notice	None statewide	No statutory cap	Verified
Wisconsin	5 days	None statewide	No statutory cap	Unverified

Notice periods across the 31 verified states

Notice before filing	States
No pre-filing notice	3
3 days	10
5 days	3
7 days	3
10 days	5
14 days	6
No fixed number	1

Sources

Notice for unpaid rent: Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a
Late fees and grace period: Minn. Stat. § 504B.177
Status: verified — the notice rule was read in statute text (or a verbatim copy of it) for our September 14, 2026 review.

Minnesota late rent laws (2026)