50-State Surveys › Rental Application and Tenant-Screening Fee Requirements by State
Rental Application and Tenant-Screening Fee Requirements by State
What may a residential landlord charge an applicant for an application, credit check, background check, or tenant-screening report, and what disclosures, receipts, refunds, report copies, and reusable-report rules apply?
51 of 51 jurisdictions verified
every entry statute-checked, oldest 2026-07-20
What this survey covers
The label on a charge does not answer whether it is lawful. A state may ban an "application fee" while allowing the actual cost of a credit or criminal- background report. Another may allow a broader screening charge but cap it at actual out-of-pocket costs, require an itemized receipt, or forbid collection until the application is actually considered.
This survey separates those questions. Each state row shows which charges are allowed, the maximum and its adjustment method, what the charge may pay for, when it may be collected, what must be disclosed first, which receipts, report copies, and refunds are due, whether an applicant may reuse a recent report, how applications and denials must be handled, and what remedy follows a violation.
Why one application-fee number is not enough
California combines an actual-cost limit with an annually adjusted ceiling. Its current Civil Code § 1950.6 also requires one of two processing models: an order-received, first-qualified process in which an applicant is not charged until actually considered, or a process that returns the full fee to every unselected applicant by the statutory deadline. It separately requires an itemized receipt, return of unused amounts, and a copy of a consumer credit report obtained after the applicant paid the fee. Official § 1950.6.
Rhode Island uses a different structure. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-59 bars a rental application fee, but permits no more than the actual cost of obtaining a required official criminal-background check or credit report when the applicant does not provide a qualifying report issued within 90 days. An applicant charged for that report must receive a copy. Official § 34-18-59.
Washington shows why disclosures and adverse action need their own columns. RCW 59.18.257 requires pre-screening notice of the information to be accessed, denial criteria, the consumer reporting agency and dispute rights, and whether a reusable report will be accepted. A self-screening charge is limited to actual costs and may not exceed customary local screening-service costs, and a state-format written notice is required after denial or conditional approval. Official RCW 59.18.257.
Patterns across the finished table
The completed table divides into two broad groups. Many states have no general application-fee statute at all, although a narrower rule may apply to a housing program, mobile-home park, minor household member, broker, or other defined setting. Where a general statute exists, the amount rule usually takes one of three forms: a flat or indexed ceiling, actual or average screening cost, or a ban on the application/processing fee coupled with a narrower pass-through for a report.
The last model is easy to miss. Massachusetts generally excludes a landlord- paid application or screening charge from the four payments a lessor or agent may collect. New York instead bars an application-review fee but permits no more than the lesser of actual background-and-credit-check cost or $20. Rhode Island bars the application fee while permitting actual report cost only when the applicant does not supply a qualifying recent report. These are three different answers, even though all can be described loosely as “fee bans.” Official Massachusetts § 15B, official New York § 238-a, and official Rhode Island § 34-18-59.
Applicant-supplied reports remain a minority rule and differ sharply when they appear. Colorado generally requires acceptance of a qualifying portable report unless the landlord uses the statutory one-application-at-a-time alternative. California and Maryland make acceptance elective, but an accepting landlord cannot add an application or access fee. New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin use narrower recent-report rules rather than a full portable-report system. Official Colorado 2023 enactment of § 38-12-904, official California § 1950.1, and official Maryland § 8-218.
Application order and denial procedure are rarer still. California offers an order-received/first-qualified or refund-all choice; Minnesota and New Mexico restrict collecting or using a later applicant's fee while earlier applications remain unresolved; the District of Columbia and Washington require state-law adverse-action information. A compliant dollar amount therefore does not answer whether the landlord charged at the right time or completed the required post-screening steps.
Timing also matters to the table itself. Illinois already has a fee-free rule for a qualifying reusable report, but its broader $50 application/background- fee ceiling and related procedures do not take effect until January 1, 2027. New Jersey's current $50 ceiling first becomes CPI-adjustable on that same date. The state rows preserve those current-versus-future distinctions rather than folding them into today's rule.
How to read the table
Start with "Fees allowed or prohibited" and "Maximum charge and adjustment." Then read the timing and disclosure columns before paying or collecting money: a charge within the dollar ceiling may still be unlawful because no unit was available, the application was never considered, or the required criteria and report-source information were not supplied first.
The receipt, report-copy, refund, and reusable-report columns answer what must happen after payment or when the applicant already has recent screening material. The application-order and adverse-action column covers state process; it does not replace federal consumer-reporting duties. Finally, read remedies with the local-law note. Several statutes preserve stronger city or county applicant protections, which sit outside this state-law table.
Get this answered for your state
This survey compares every state side by side. Ezel applies your state's law to your specific situation and answers with citations to the statutes.
Scroll sideways in the table to see all columns →
| State | Governing law and coverage | Fees allowed or prohibited | Maximum charge and adjustment | Permitted costs and charge timing | Before-screening disclosures | Receipt, report copy, and refund | Applicant-supplied or reusable reports | Application order and adverse action | Remedies and stronger local rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-101 to -603 and Title 34, ch. 27; the first governs residential rental agreements, while the second covers licensed rental and property-management activity |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits residential application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or tenant-screening fees |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited schemes |
No statewide fee-component, unit-availability, charge-when-considered, multiple-concurrent-application, or repeat-charge restriction |
No special statewide application-fee, unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, reusable-report, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process; § 35-9A-421 addresses intentional application misrepresentation after a tenancy dispute, not screening procedure |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages; § 35-9A-121 makes ch. 9A exclusive and supersedes local residential landlord-tenant ordinances, while preserving generally applicable codes |
| Alaska verified 2026-07-21 | Alaska URLTA, AS 34.03.010-.360; no general ordinary-applicant fee process, but AS 34.03.040(c)(3)-(4) covers vendor/transfer and entry fees involving mobile-home-park tenants and prospective tenants, subject to § 34.03.330 exclusions |
Ordinary residential application/screening fee not specifically regulated; mobile-home park may not require entry fee, but may charge reasonable fee for services actually performed with advance written amount notice (§ 34.03.040(c)(4)) |
Mobile-home service fee must be reasonable and for services actually performed; no numeric or indexed ceiling; no general ordinary-applicant statewide cap (§ 34.03.040(c)(3)-(4)) |
Mobile-home park: actual performed services only, with written amount notice before prospective tenant agrees to move; normal park standards may be applied before granting or denying tenancy (§ 34.03.040(c)(3)-(4)) |
Mobile-home service-charge amount must be disclosed in writing before agreement to move into park; no general unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, reusable-report, or application-order disclosure (§ 34.03.040(c)(3)-(4)) |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, screening-report copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule; mobile-home rule requires advance written amount notice, not a receipt |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No general first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial notice; in mobile-home sale context, operator may apply normal standards and has 30 days after seller's written notice to refuse for listed grounds (§ 34.03.040(c)(1), (3)) |
Prohibited rental-agreement term unenforceable; wilful use of known prohibited term permits actual damages; no application-fee local-preemption clause (§ 34.03.040(b)) |
| Arizona verified 2026-07-21 | A.R.S. Title 33, ch. 10; dwelling-unit rentals, subject to § 33-1308 exclusions (§§ 33-1304, 33-1310) |
No application-fee-specific authorization or ban; purpose of every nonrefundable fee or deposit must be stated in writing (§ 33-1321(B)) |
No special dollar, actual-cost, customary-cost, or indexed application/screening-fee ceiling in ch. 10; the 1.5-month cap applies to security (§ 33-1321(A)) |
No application-fee cost list, vacancy condition, charge-when-considered rule, or special collection timing in ch. 10 |
Written purpose required for a nonrefundable fee; no special vacancy, criteria, report-source, or dispute-right disclosure (§ 33-1321(B)) |
Fee not designated nonrefundable is refundable; no special application-fee receipt, report-copy, unused-fee, or denial-refund deadline (§ 33-1321(B)) |
No applicant-supplied, portable, or reusable tenant-screening-report procedure in ch. 10 |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state application-denial notice procedure in ch. 10 |
No application-fee-specific damages or local-rule clause; § 33-1329 preempts rent control, not application fees by name |
| Arkansas verified 2026-07-21 | Ark. Code tit. 18, ch. 17 and §§ 14-16-601, 14-54-1409 govern ordinary private rentals/local amount control; 15 CAR pt. 86 adds an LIHTC-only fee rule |
Ordinary private market: no general application/screening-fee ban. LIHTC: application fee may cover income, credit-history, and landlord-reference checks (15 CAR § 86-304(e)) |
Ordinary private market: no statewide cap, and local amount caps are preempted. LIHTC: actual out-of-pocket costs only; no indexed ceiling (15 CAR § 86-304(e)) |
No ordinary-market cost or collection-timing rule. LIHTC: only named checks; applicant may pay the rental-history provider directly (15 CAR § 86-304(e)) |
No applicant-facing fee, availability, criteria, or report-source precharge disclosure; licensed property managers disclose application/screening compensation in the owner management agreement (17 CAR § 220-1017) |
No statewide ordinary-market or LIHTC applicant receipt, screening-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund procedure |
No applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, screening-criteria, or state denial-reason notice process |
No applicant fee-specific damages formula; LIHTC owners/managers must support the fee amount. Local governments may not control the amount, but Act 459 states no broader process-rule preemption |
| California verified 2026-07-20 | Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1950.6 and 1950.1; residential owners/agents, applicants, guarantors, and cosigners |
Screening fee allowed for a consumer report and application validation/review/processing; it is not security or a real-estate-license advance fee (§ 1950.6(a), (i), (k)) |
Actual information costs + reasonable processing time, never above the $30-per-applicant baseline adjusted annually with CPI (§ 1950.6(b)); statute does not print the current adjusted figure |
No charge if no unit is or soon will be available; landlord must offer a qualifying first-qualified/charge-when-considered or refund-all-unselected process (§ 1950.6(c)) |
First-qualified option requires written screening criteria with the application; charging is barred if the landlord knows or should know no unit is available within a reasonable time (§ 1950.6(c)) |
Itemized receipt; unused amount returned; credit report copy within 7 days. Unconsidered fee refunded within 7 days; refund-all option uses 7 days after selection or 30 days after application, whichever is first (§ 1950.6(c)-(f)) |
Landlord may elect to accept a qualifying report prepared within 30 days and available at no access cost; if accepted, no access or screening fee (§ 1950.1(c)-(e), (h)) |
Choose: order-received, first applicant meeting written criteria is approved; or refund every unselected applicant. No separate state adverse-action notice in §§ 1950.6 or 1950.1 |
No fee-specific damages formula in §§ 1950.6 or 1950.1; for reusable reports, a conflicting local policy applies if it gives applicants greater protection (§ 1950.1(g)) |
| Colorado verified 2026-07-21 | C.R.S. §§ 38-12-901 to -905 (Rental Application Fairness Act); covers dwelling-unit owner, manager, lessor, or sublessor and prospective tenants; no small-landlord exemption |
Application/processing/screening fee allowed only for processing costs; no application or report access/use fee when qualifying portable report supplied, unless landlord uses one-application-at-a-time/full-refund alternative (§§ 38-12-902 to -904) |
No flat dollar cap; fee may not exceed actual processing expense or average per-applicant processing expense and must be uniform for applicants to same or simultaneously offered units (§ 38-12-903(1)-(2)) |
Entire fee must cover application-processing costs; unused amount returned by good-faith effort within 20 calendar days after processing; no separate statewide vacancy condition (§ 38-12-903) |
Before fee-generating screening, portable-report/no-fee advisement in specified ads, homepage, application, or oral-plus-written-confirmation format; expense disclosure/itemization after payment; broader application disclosures start Jan. 1, 2027 (§§ 38-12-903(3), -904(1.5), 2026 ch. 326) |
Receipt for every fee (electronic unless paper requested); unused fee returned within 20 days after processing; landlord-obtained consumer report copy plus dispute-right advisement; alternative-process landlord refunds full fee within 20 days after written decline (§§ 38-12-903(3)-(4), -904(1.5)(f), (2)) |
Generally must accept portable report completed within prior 30 days, available at no access/use cost, with no-material-change statement and statutory contents; housing-subsidy report need not include credit history/score/adverse credit event (§§ 38-12-902(2.5), -904(1.5)) |
No general first-in-order rule; optional one-application-at-a-time/full-refund model; denial reasons in writing, generally within 20 days, with consumer-report copy/dispute notice or proprietary-screening report with only proprietary information redacted (§ 38-12-904) |
$2,500 plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees; 7-day pre-suit notice; cure within 7 days requires $50 penalty instead; attorney general enforcement; Part 9 states no express local-preemption clause (§ 38-12-905) |
| Connecticut verified 2026-07-21 | Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-1, 47a-2, and 47a-4d; owners, lessors, and sublessors charging prospective tenants for suitability reports on residential dwelling units, subject to § 47a-2 exclusions |
Application processing/review/acceptance fees prohibited; tenant-screening-report fee allowed; other pre/beginning-of-tenancy charges limited to security deposit, first month's rent, and key/special-equipment deposit (§ 47a-4d(b)) |
$50 plus an adjustment reflecting any CPI-U increase, determined annually by the Commissioner of Housing; no unofficial adjusted dollar figure substituted (§ 47a-4d(c)) |
Fee may be charged for a report concerning the prospective tenant; statute does not impose an actual-cost ceiling or state when within the application process the screening fee may be collected (§ 47a-4d(c)) |
No special unit-availability, fee-basis, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure before charging in § 47a-4d |
Charging landlord must provide report copy—or provider-request information if prohibited from providing it—and screening entity's receipt/invoice; no statutory deadline, delivery method, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund (§ 47a-4d(d)) |
No applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance/no-fee procedure in § 47a-4d |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or separate state denial-reason notice process in § 47a-4d |
Section 47a-4d states no fee-specific damages, fixed penalty, attorney-fee rule, agency enforcement mechanism, or local-preemption clause |
| Delaware verified 2026-07-21 | 25 Del. C. §§ 5310, 5514(d); prospective applications to lease residential rental units governed by the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code, subject to § 5102 exclusions |
Application fee for creditworthiness allowed; credit/other-investigation charge limited to specific investigation cost; unlisted assurance money or other applicant payment prohibited (§§ 5310(a), 5514(d)) |
Application fee: greater of 10% of monthly rent or $50; credit/other-investigation fee also may not exceed specific investigation cost; no indexing (§§ 5310(a), 5514(d)) |
Credit or other investigation: no more than specific cost; application fee is for determining creditworthiness; no special collection sequence or unit-availability condition (§§ 5310(a), 5514(d)) |
No special unit-availability, fee-basis, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, reusable-report, or application-order disclosure in §§ 5310 or 5514(d) |
Receipt for full application-fee amount upon payment; complete fee records at least 2 years and each application 6 months; no special report-copy or unused/unconsidered-fee refund deadline (§§ 5310(b), 5514(d)) |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure in §§ 5310 or 5514(d) |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process in §§ 5310 or 5514(d) |
Tenant gets double the amount charged for unlawful application-fee demand; Attorney General may investigate assurance-money violations and issue cease-and-desist orders; general civil action available; no local-preemption clause (§§ 5117, 5310(b), 5514(d)) |
| District of Columbia verified 2026-07-21 | D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.10 and 42-3502.22; housing-provider screening of prospective tenants for District rental units |
Application fee allowed; no other prospective-tenant fee before lease signing; same-provider applications within 30 days generally charged once unless more than one screening is required (§ 42-3505.10(b), (b-1)) |
$50 statutory base; housing provider/agent may adjust annually beginning Jan. 1, 2024 commensurate with CPI-U increase; replacement fee shares ceiling (§ 42-3505.10(b)(1)-(4)) |
Fee may be requested only after pre-screening notice; one fee across same-provider District units applied to within 30 days unless another screening is required; refund if no screening (§ 42-3505.10(a)-(c)) |
Before information/fee: amount, purpose, mandatory/voluntary and refundability; screening information and denial criteria; report agency/free-copy right; unit availability; response time; dispute/refund/enforcement rights (§ 42-3505.10(a)); application form adds fee and unit disclosures (§ 42-3502.22(b)) |
No special payment receipt; disclose unused-fee refund right; if no screening, refund within reasonable time ≤14 days; adverse-action notice includes free copy/summary of third-party basis (§ 42-3505.10(a)(5), (9), (c), (f)(2)) |
No current mandatory applicant-supplied/reusable-report acceptance; same-provider applications within 30 days pay once unless multiple screenings required (§ 42-3505.10(b-1)); B26-0477 would add qualifying 30-day reusable reports |
No first-in-order/first-qualified rule; disclose decision-response period; written adverse action by that date with grounds, third-party basis, dispute and OHR rights; written dispute response within 10 days (§ 42-3505.10(a)(7)-(8), (f)-(g)) |
OHR/Commission fines up to $1,000/$2,500/$5,000 by provider size, potentially doubled; alternative 1-year civil action with attorney fees/costs, incidental damages, equitable relief; District-wide law (§ 42-3505.10(h)-(i)) |
| Florida verified 2026-07-20 | Fla. Stat. ch. 83, pt. II; no general application-fee section. §§ 83.425 and 83.683 govern state preemption and servicemember applications |
No general statewide provision allowing, banning, or distinguishing application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or screening charges |
No statewide dollar, actual-cost, customary-cost, household, or indexed ceiling |
No general statutory rule on permitted screening costs, unit availability, collection timing, or concurrent fees |
No general state application-fee or screening disclosure; local screening/application-fee regulation is preempted (§ 83.425) |
No general state receipt, report-copy, unused-fee, rejection-refund, or unconsidered-application-refund duty |
No reusable-report rule; 2025 HB 43/SB 362 proposals died without enactment |
Ordinary applicants: no state order or notice rule. Servicemembers: written approval or denial with reason within 7 days; timely silence requires leasing if all other terms are met (§ 83.683) |
No application-fee-specific state damages formula. State preemption supersedes local rules on screening, rental applications, and associated fees (§ 83.425) |
| Georgia verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after current reconstruction of O.C.G.A. chs. 44-7 and 43-40; DCA's statewide handbook says application fees may be required |
Application fees may be required and are usually nonrefundable; landlords may require credit and criminal-background checks (Georgia DCA Handbook 6) |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-component, unit-availability, charge-when-considered, concurrent-application, or repeat-charge rule; DCA says the fee may be applied to first month's rent |
No special statewide fee or screening disclosure; separate flood-propensity notice applies before a written residential lease when § 44-7-20's history threshold is met |
No special statutory application-fee receipt, report-copy, unused-fee, or unconsidered-application refund duty; DCA advises applicants to get a receipt and says fees are usually nonrefundable |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages, agency remedy, or local-preemption clause in the audited statutes; general broker trust-account and discipline rules remain |
| Hawaii verified 2026-07-21 | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-46; landlords and their agents processing applications for dwelling units, subject to chapter exclusions in § 521-7; fee only for applicants age 18+ or emancipated minors |
Application screening fee allowed to cover costs of obtaining applicant information; may include reference checks, tenant reports, criminal-background checks, and consumer-agency credit reports (§ 521-46(a)) |
Limited to costs of obtaining applicant information, with unused amounts returned; no separate numeric, customary-cost, per-household, or indexed ceiling (§ 521-46(a), (c)) |
Charge only when the application is processed; screening costs may include personal references, tenant reports, criminal-background checks, and credit reports; adults/emancipated minors only (§ 521-46(a)) |
No special precharge unit-availability, fee-amount, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure |
On applicant request: receipt and breakdown of covered costs. Unused amount returned within 30 days after landlord submits screening requests; no landlord-obtained-report-copy duty (§ 521-46(b)-(c)) |
No current statewide applicant-supplied or comprehensive reusable tenant-screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
Office of Consumer Protection may receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve any Chapter 521 dispute (§ 521-77); no fee-specific statutory damages or local-preemption/stronger-local-law clause |
| Idaho verified 2026-07-21 | No applicant-specific statewide fee statute after audit of Idaho Code tit. 55 ch. 3 and tit. 54 ch. 20; § 55-305 separately governs fees imposed on residential tenants, and § 55-306 preempts local regulation of private-residential leasing fees |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits applicant-stage application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or tenant-screening fees; fees imposed on a residential tenant must be reasonable (§ 55-305(1)) |
No applicant-specific numeric, cost-based, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling; separate tenant-fee rule uses reasonableness and the agreed amount (§ 55-305(1)-(2)) |
No applicant-stage fee-component, vacancy, charge-when-considered, multiple-application, or repeat-charge restriction; § 55-305 separately limits fees charged to a tenant |
No special statewide applicant-stage fee, unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure; a new tenant fee omitted from a written rental agreement requires 30 days' written notice (§ 55-305(2)(b)) |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No applicant-fee-specific statutory damages or enforcement provision; local units generally may not regulate fees charged for leasing private residential property, except property they own (§ 55-306) |
| Illinois verified 2026-07-20 | Current: 765 ILCS 705/30, landlords and prospective tenants. From Jan. 1, 2027: § 35, new residential leases except owner-occupied premises with 6 or fewer units |
Current: no screening/access fee when a qualifying reusable report is supplied (§ 30(b)). From Jan. 1, 2027: application/background fee allowed within cap; duplicate or unrelated ancillary application fees barred (§ 35(c)) |
Current: no general statewide amount cap in § 30. From Jan. 1, 2027: $50; a costlier third-party background check may exceed $50 only under the actual-cost procedure (§ 35(c)(1)) |
Current qualifying reusable report must be free to access and use. From Jan. 1, 2027, landlord pays an over-$50 third-party check upfront and bills applicant with provider receipts within 14 days (§§ 30(b), 35(c)(1)) |
Current § 30 states no special vacancy or fee disclosure. From Jan. 1, 2027, all nonoptional fees must appear clearly in the listing or linked page and on the lease's first page (§ 35(b)) |
Current § 30 states no general receipt, report-copy, or refund duty. From Jan. 1, 2027, provider receipts are required for an over-$50 third-party-check bill; missing the 14-day deadline waives that fee (§ 35(c)(1)) |
Mandatory fee-free use if a 30-day report is direct/third-party, free to access, and covers all consistently used criteria; landlord may request a no-material-change statement (§ 30(a)-(b)) |
No special statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, or state adverse-action procedure in current § 30 or future § 35 |
Current reusable-report rule applies the stronger conflicting local policy (§ 30(c)). From Jan. 1, 2027, civil action may yield injunction, money, attorney fees, and costs; local rules must be at least as protective (§ 35(d), (f)) |
| Indiana verified 2026-07-21 | Ind. Code art. 32-31; residential landlord-tenant statutes apply to Indiana dwelling-unit rental agreements, subject to the arrangements excluded by § 32-31-2.9-4; landlord includes owners, lessors, sublessors, managers, and rental agents (§ 32-31-3-3) |
No application-fee-specific authorization or prohibition in art. 32-31 or the Real Estate Broker Licensing Act; a returnable amount securing rental-agreement performance may instead be a security deposit (§ 32-31-3-9) |
No special statewide dollar, actual-cost, customary-cost, or indexed application/screening-fee ceiling |
No special screening-cost list, vacancy condition, charge-when-considered rule, multiple-application restriction, or collection-timing rule |
No special statewide application-fee amount, unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or reusable-report disclosure before charging |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, screening-report-copy, unused-fee, excess-fee, duplicate-fee, unconsidered-application, or denial-refund procedure |
No applicant-supplied, portable, or reusable tenant-screening-report procedure |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, refund-all, or Indiana application-denial notice procedure |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages; § 32-31-1-20(c) preempts unauthorized local regulation of screening, lease applications, disclosures, lease rights, and any landlord fees |
| Iowa verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of Iowa Code chs. 562A and 543B; ch. 562A governs residential landlord-tenant rights, subject to § 562A.5 exclusions |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or screening-report fees |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-purpose, vacancy, charge-when-considered, or multiple-concurrent-application restriction |
No special statewide availability, fee-basis, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or enforcement provision; audited chapters state no application-fee local-preemption clause |
| Kansas verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of K.S.A. ch. 58 arts. 25 and 30; Residential Landlord and Tenant Act covers dwelling-unit rental agreements, subject to § 58-2541 exclusions |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or tenant-screening fees |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-component, vacancy, charge-when-considered, or multiple-concurrent-application restriction |
No special statewide availability, fee-basis, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or enforcement provision; audited statutes state no application-fee local-preemption clause |
| Kentucky verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of KRS chs. 383 and 324; KRS §§ 383.500-.715 URLTA is local-government opt-in |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or screening-report fees |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-purpose, vacancy, charge-when-considered, or multiple-concurrent-application restriction |
No special statewide availability, fee-basis, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages; § 383.198 bars conflicting local landlord-tenant ordinances, and § 383.500 limits local URLTA adoption |
| Louisiana verified 2026-07-21 | La. R.S. 9:3258.1; all lessors of property used as lessee's primary residence except owner-occupied buildings with no more than 4 units |
Application fee allowed after required written notice; statute does not separately classify processing, credit-check, background-check, or screening-report charges |
No statewide flat, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, or indexed cap; exact application-fee amount must be disclosed before payment (R.S. 9:3258.1(A)(1)) |
No statutory cost formula, vacancy condition, or multiple-application limit; written notice required before lessor accepts application-fee payment |
Written prepayment notice: fee amount; whether credit scores, employment, criminal, or eviction history considered; applicant's ≤200-word declared-disaster/emergency hardship statement option; notice must reference COVID-19 and hurricanes (§ 3258.1(A)) |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule in § 3258.1 |
No applicant-supplied or reusable screening report acceptance/no-fee procedure in § 3258.1 or the current Title 9 lease scheme |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process; statute requires only the listed prepayment screening-category disclosures |
No private cause of action; lessor and agents/employees immune from all causes of action for alleged § 3258.1 violations; statute states no application-fee local-preemption clause |
| Maine verified 2026-07-21 | 14 M.R.S. § 6030-H; applications to rent a dwelling unit, defined by § 6021(1) to include mobile homes, apartments, buildings, or other structures and common areas rented for human habitation |
Application submission, review, and approval fees prohibited; landlord may charge actual cost of only one background check, credit check, or other screening process (§ 6030-H(2)-(3)) |
Actual cost of only one permitted check or screening process; no separate numeric, customary-cost, per-household, or indexed ceiling (§ 6030-H(3)) |
Only one of: background check, credit check, or other screening process; applicant may not be charged more than one such fee in any 12-month period; statutory notice required before charging (§ 6030-H(3)) |
Before charging, notify applicant that law requires landlord to provide a complete copy of information obtained; no unit-availability, fee-amount, detailed-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure (§ 6030-H(3)) |
Landlord must provide complete copy of information obtained from the background, credit, or other screening process; no special receipt or unused/unconsidered-fee refund deadline (§ 6030-H(3)) |
No statewide duty to accept an applicant-supplied or reusable report; same landlord may not charge applicant more than one screening fee in 12 months (§ 6030-H(3)) |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
Section 6030-H states no fee-specific damages, penalty, cure, or enforcement formula and no local-preemption or stronger-local-law clause |
| Maryland verified 2026-07-21 | Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-213 and 8-218; § 8-213 excludes landlords offering 4 or fewer units on one parcel/location and seasonal or condominium rentals; § 8-218 states no parallel exemption |
Covered landlord may require non-security-deposit application/credit-check fees, subject to § 8-213 refund rules; accepting landlord may not charge report-access or application fee when applicant supplies a qualifying reusable report (§ 8-218(d)) |
No hard $25 cap: fees over $25 trigger actual-expenditure accounting/refund; landlord may retain amounts actually spent for credit check or other application expenses (§ 8-213(b)) |
For fees over $25, retain only actual credit-check and other application expenses; no statewide vacancy, charge-when-considered, or multiple-application restriction in §§ 8-213 or 8-218 |
Lease application must explain signing liabilities and § 8-213(b)-(c); landlord must notify whether reusable reports are accepted, in writing or conspicuously via listing, homepage, online application, or other reasonable method (§§ 8-213(a), 8-218(c)) |
No application-fee receipt or landlord-obtained-report-copy duty; when covered fees exceed $25, return unspent part within 15 days after occupancy or written notice that no tenancy will occur (§ 8-213(b)) |
Acceptance optional; qualifying report is ≤30 days old, applicant-requested/paid, sent directly by CRA at no landlord cost, and contains specified credit, 7-year criminal/eviction, employment/income, address, and rental-history data (§ 8-218(a)-(b)) |
No first-in-order or general Maryland denial-notice procedure; accepting landlord may require no-material-change certification and may reject before lease execution if the applicant made a material report change (§ 8-218(e)-(f)) |
Failure to return fees as § 8-213 requires creates liability for twice the fees; §§ 8-213 and 8-218 contain no application-fee local-preemption clause |
| Massachusetts verified 2026-07-21 | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B(1)(b), (9); residential lessors/agents and prospective tenants; vacation/recreation tenancies of 100 days or less excluded |
Application, processing, credit-check, background-check, and screening fees paid to the lessor or lessor's agent are outside the four permitted charges (§ 15B(1)(b)) |
$0 to the lessor or lessor's agent for an application/screening charge; § 15B does not price a report bought directly from an independent provider |
At or before tenancy, lessor/agent may require only first rent, last rent, security deposit, and key/lock cost; no screening-cost pass-through to them (§ 15B(1)(b)) |
No special statewide vacancy, screening-criteria, report-source, or dispute-right disclosure in § 15B |
No application-fee receipt, screening-report-copy, unused-fee, or denial-refund process in § 15B; the charge itself may not be required by the lessor/agent |
No applicant-supplied, portable, or reusable tenant-screening-report procedure in § 15B |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state application-denial notice procedure in § 15B |
Conflicting lease terms and waivers are void (§ 15B(8)); no application-fee-specific damages or local-preemption clause in § 15B |
| Michigan verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide applicant-fee statute after audit of 1972 PA 348 (MCL §§ 554.601-.616), the Truth in Renting Act, and Occupational Code art. 25; a narrower MSHDA rule governs LIHTC units |
No general-market provision specifically authorizes or prohibits an application or screening fee; MSHDA permits a customary and reasonable LIHTC application fee but bars a fee for required eligibility paperwork |
No statewide general-market numeric, actual-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling; LIHTC program rule is customary and reasonable |
No general-market fee-component, vacancy, charge-when-considered, concurrent-application, or repeat-charge rule; LIHTC special eligibility paperwork cannot be charged to the applicant |
No general statewide fee, vacancy, criteria, report-source, dispute-right, reusable-report, or application-order disclosure; LIHTC projects remain subject to program rules |
No general statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No current statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or Michigan denial-reason notice process for ordinary rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or statewide fee-preemption clause in the audited general-market schemes; the LIHTC rule applies only to regulated projects |
| Minnesota verified 2026-07-21 | Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.173 and 504B.175; applies when a landlord accepts an applicant screening fee from a prospective residential tenant; no listed small-landlord or unit-type exemption |
Reasonable applicant screening fee allowed; distinct from prelease deposit; fee may fund personal-reference check, consumer credit report, or tenant screening report (§§ 504B.173(2), 504B.175(1)) |
No flat statewide dollar cap or index; § 504B.175(1) describes a reasonable applicant screening fee, and § 504B.173(2)(b) requires return of amounts not used for listed checks/reports |
No charge if landlord knows/should know no unit is available now or within reasonable future; do not use, cash, or deposit fee until all prior applicants are rejected or offered unit and decline (§ 504B.173(1)) |
Before accepting fee, disclose in writing screening service name/address/phone (unless none used) and all decision criteria; availability restriction separately applies (§ 504B.173(1), (3)) |
Written receipt upon applicant request; return fee if denial uses undisclosed reason or prior applicant accepts; return unused amount if listed checks/reports not performed; mail, destroy requested check, or hold for retrieval; no report-copy duty (§ 504B.173(1)-(2)) |
No applicant-supplied or reusable-report acceptance/no-fee rule in § 504B.173 or the current ch. 504B scheme |
Fees held unused until prior applicants resolved; rejection notice within 14 days must identify criteria applicant failed; pending/nonpublic/expunged/destroyed or no-writ eviction cases cannot support denial (§ 504B.173(1), (3)-(3a)) |
Landlord owes screening fee plus civil penalty up to $100, filing costs, and reasonable attorney fees; materially false/omitted application information can expose applicant to damages plus up to $500 and costs/fees; no express local-preemption clause (§ 504B.173(4)) |
| Mississippi verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of Miss. Code Title 89 and Title 73 ch. 35; ch. 89-8 covers rental agreements for Mississippi dwelling units, subject to § 89-8-3 exclusions |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or tenant-screening fees |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-component, vacancy, charge-when-considered, or multiple-concurrent-application restriction |
No special statewide availability, fee-basis, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or enforcement provision; audited statutes state no application-fee local-preemption clause |
| Missouri verified 2026-07-21 | Mo. Rev. Stat. chs. 441, 534, and 535; landlord includes the owner, lessor, or authorized manager, and lease means a written or oral premises-use agreement (§ 441.005); ch. 339 separately governs brokers and rental agents |
No application-fee-specific authorization or prohibition in audited chs. 441, 534, 535, or 339; a deposit furnished by a tenant to secure rental-agreement performance is a security deposit (§ 535.300.8) |
No special statewide dollar, actual-cost, customary-cost, or indexed application/screening-fee ceiling; the two-month cap in § 535.300.1 applies to security deposits |
No special screening-cost list, vacancy condition, charge-when-considered rule, multiple-application restriction, or collection-timing rule |
No special statewide application-fee amount, unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or reusable-report disclosure before charging |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, screening-report-copy, unused-fee, excess-fee, duplicate-fee, unconsidered-application, or denial-refund procedure |
No applicant-supplied, portable, or reusable tenant-screening-report procedure |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, refund-all, or Missouri application-denial notice procedure |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or fee-preemption clause; § 441.043.2 separately preempts local limits on landlords' use or request of listed screening information and local security-deposit caps, but does not name application fees |
| Montana verified 2026-07-21 | Mont. Code Ann. § 37-56-109; statutory property manager of 4+ dwelling units, with property manager broadly defined by § 37-56-101(2) |
Application fee recognized; for unsuccessful applicant, manager may retain only written-notice allocations for specific services actually performed (§ 37-56-109(1)-(2)) |
No numeric, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling; unsuccessful-applicant retention limited to out-of-pocket service costs, excluding manager time/effort (§ 37-56-109(2), (4)(b)) |
Cost means out-of-pocket expense for a specific pre-approval/disapproval service, including but not limited to credit check; no manager-time/effort charge; refund rule applies if no qualifying rental agreement (§ 37-56-109(1), (4)(b)) |
At fee collection, written notice must allocate portions of total fee to each specific service cost; no unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure (§ 37-56-109(2)) |
If no signed or legally equivalent rental agreement, refund within reasonable time, less disclosed costs for services actually performed; no special receipt or screening-report-copy duty (§ 37-56-109(1)-(2)) |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
Wrongfully withheld amount recoverable as damages; court may award prevailing-party attorney fees; manager bears proof of application services rendered; no local-preemption/stronger-local-law clause (§ 37-56-109(3)) |
| Nebraska verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to -1449, 76-2401 to -2430, and 81-885.01 to -.55; URLTA covers Nebraska dwelling-unit rental agreements subject to § 76-1408 exclusions |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits residential application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or tenant-screening fees |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-component, vacancy, charge-when-considered, multiple-concurrent-application, or repeat-charge restriction |
No special statewide application-fee, unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or enforcement provision; audited statutes state no application-fee local-preemption clause |
| Nevada verified 2026-07-21 | NRS 118A.080, 118A.100, 118A.180, and 118A.306; landlords charging prospective tenants to apply for covered Nevada dwelling units; chapter exclusions apply |
No general adult-applicant fee ban in § 118A.306; application, credit-report, and background-check fees are all barred for a minor household member (§ 118A.306(1)-(3)) |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in §§ 118A.235 and 118A.306 |
No cost-component or precollection timing rule; refund if the unit is rented to someone else and the paid activity was not performed (§ 118A.306(1)) |
No fee, criteria, unit-availability, or report-source precharge disclosure; on request, landlord/agent must give the prospective tenant the would-be written rental agreement (§ 118A.235) |
No application-stage receipt or screening-report-copy duty; the paid fee is refunded on the two-part trigger, with no statutory deadline (§ 118A.306(1)) |
No applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, screening-criteria, or state denial-reason notice process |
Mandatory refund and minor-fee ban; no fee-specific damages, penalty, cure, attorney-fee, or local-preemption clause stated in § 118A.306 |
| New Hampshire verified 2026-07-21 | RSA 540-A:3(VIII); landlords collecting any fee from prospective tenants as part of a residential rental-application or renewal process |
Application/renewal fee regulated; if unit is not rented to applicant, landlord may retain only actual documented background- and credit-check costs and reasonable administrative costs (§ 540-A:3(VIII)) |
No numeric, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling; unselected-applicant retention limited to actual documented check costs plus reasonable administrative costs (§ 540-A:3(VIII)) |
Before collecting any fee, written disclosures required; if applicant is not selected, excess over documented background/credit costs and reasonable administrative costs must be returned (§ 540-A:3(VIII)) |
Before collection, clearly disclose in writing the fee amount and any requirement for a satisfactory criminal-background and credit check; no unit-availability, detailed-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure |
No special receipt or report-copy duty. If unit is not rented to applicant, return excess over allowed documented/reasonable costs within 30 days of receiving the fee (§ 540-A:3(VIII)) |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice; landlord need not run a check and may rent despite an unsatisfactory result (§ 540-A:3(VIII)) |
Violation remedy is return of all application money plus court costs (§ 540-A:4(IX)(f)); no application-fee local-preemption or stronger-local-law clause |
| New Jersey verified 2026-07-20 | N.J.S.A. 46:8-18.1 to -18.2; landlords and agents, except one-/two-family dwelling units and NJ Real Estate Commission licensees who are not the landlord |
Application or other similar fee to apply to lease/sublease residential property allowed up to the ceiling; changing the label does not remove a similar fee from the statute (§ 46:8-18.1(a)) |
$50 through 2026; adjusted upward only for positive CPI change beginning Jan. 1, 2027, with the annual limit published by Consumer Affairs (§ 46:8-18.1(a), (d)) |
Cap is not limited to actual screening cost; no special collection-timing rule in §§ 46:8-18.1 to -18.2. AG/DCA guidance warns that charging for an unavailable unit may violate the Consumer Fraud Act |
No express fee, vacancy, criteria, information-category, or report-source disclosure in the cap Act; AG/DCA guidance says failure to clearly disclose a required application fee may violate the Consumer Fraud Act (§ 56:8-2) |
No receipt, screening-report-copy, or routine refund procedure; after enforcement, the wrongfully charged amount is taken from the penalty and remitted to the applicant (§ 46:8-18.1(b)) |
No applicant-supplied or reusable-report rule in §§ 46:8-18.1 to -18.2 |
No application-order or general adverse-action procedure in §§ 46:8-18.1 to -18.2; A1744 and S402 would add written screening notices if enacted |
Penalty up to $500 first, $750 second, and $1,000 later offenses; Consumer Affairs Director or Attorney General initiates enforcement; separate Consumer Fraud Act exposure may apply; no express local-preemption clause |
| New Mexico verified 2026-07-21 | NMSA 1978 §§ 47-8-3, -8, -9, -19.1 to -19.3, and -48; dwelling-unit owners and applicants, including guarantors/cosigners; listed occupancies exempt |
One screening fee allowed for credit-report, reference-check, screening-service, and application-processing costs; no other application-processing fee (§ 47-8-19.2(A)) |
$50 maximum with no adjustment formula; charge is defined and allowed only to recoup or cover the owner's screening costs (§§ 47-8-3(T), -19.2(A)) |
Written/digital notice + written agreement; no fee if no unit is or will be available; hold/wait to collect until prior applications resolve; no repeat fee for same-owner properties when screening occurred within 90 days (§§ 47-8-19.2(A), -19.3(A)) |
Screening-fee notice and written agreement before charging; published listing must itemize base rent and all rental-agreement/residency fees; no special screening-criteria or report-source disclosure (§§ 47-8-19.1, -19.2(A)(1)-(2)) |
Written/digital receipt; copy of every report used; return within 30 days if a prior applicant takes the unit or screening/application work is not done, by certified mail, check destruction on request, or pickup (§§ 47-8-19.2(B)-(C), -19.3(B)) |
No applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure in the current Act |
Sequential fee hold until prior applicants are rejected or decline an offer; no separate first-qualified selection mandate or state denial-reason notice (§ 47-8-19.2(A)(4)) |
$250 liability + return of all fees for an unauthorized screening fee; prevailing-party attorney fees/costs; no application-fee-specific local-preemption clause (§ 47-8-48(A)-(B)) |
| New York verified 2026-07-20 | N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a(1); landlords, lessors, sublessors, and grantors, with specified care/retirement-community and cooperative exceptions |
Application processing/review/acceptance charges barred; only background- and credit-check cost reimbursement allowed (§ 238-a(1)(a)-(b)) |
Lesser of actual cost or $20 cumulative; qualifying co-op owner/shareholder checks may exceed $20 only up to actual cost, or use reasonable agency-approved fees (§ 238-a(1)(b)) |
Only background/credit-check costs; no collection unless the applicant receives the check copy and the conducting entity's receipt or invoice (§ 238-a(1)(b)) |
No general availability or screening-criteria disclosure in current § 238-a; pending A9294-A would add pre-evaluation disclosures |
Check copy plus provider receipt/invoice are collection preconditions; no general rejection-refund deadline in current § 238-a |
Fee must be waived for an applicant-supplied background or credit check conducted within the past 30 days; no broader reusable-report system (§ 238-a(1)(b)) |
No state application-order rule or separate denial notice in current § 238-a |
Lease/contract waiver or limitation is void (§ 238-a(3)); no fee-specific damages formula or express local-preemption clause in § 238-a |
| North Carolina verified 2026-07-20 | No general landlord application- or screening-fee provision in N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 42; § 66-143 separately covers rental-referral agencies |
Chapter 42 does not specifically authorize or prohibit an ordinary landlord application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or screening charge |
No statewide dollar, actual-cost, customary-cost, or indexed ceiling for an ordinary landlord charge in ch. 42 |
No special permitted-cost list, vacancy condition, charge-when-considered rule, or application-fee collection timing in ch. 42 |
No special statewide availability, fee, screening-criteria, report-source, or dispute-rights disclosure in ch. 42 |
No special landlord itemized-receipt, report-copy, unused-fee, unconsidered-application, or rejection-refund rule in ch. 42 |
No applicant-supplied, portable, or reusable tenant-screening-report rule in ch. 42 |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state adverse-action procedure in ch. 42 |
No application-fee-specific remedy or local-rule clause; § 42-14.1 preempts local rent-amount and housing-assistance-source measures, not application fees by name |
| North Dakota verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of N.D.C.C. chs. 47-16 and 43-23; ch. 47-16 governs real-property leases, and ch. 43-23 regulates brokers whose defined activities include leasing |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits residential application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or tenant-screening fees |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-component, unit-availability, charge-when-considered, multiple-concurrent-application, or repeat-charge restriction |
No special statewide application-fee, unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, reusable-report, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or enforcement provision; § 47-16-02.1 preempts local rent control but does not state an application-fee preemption rule |
| Ohio verified 2026-07-20 | No general landlord application- or screening-fee provision in Ohio Rev. Code ch. 5321; § 4735.021 separately covers licensed rental-listing referral services |
Chapter 5321 does not specifically authorize or prohibit an ordinary landlord application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or screening charge |
No statewide dollar, actual-cost, customary-cost, or indexed ceiling for an ordinary landlord charge in ch. 5321 |
No special permitted-cost list, vacancy condition, charge-when-considered rule, or application-fee collection timing in ch. 5321 |
No special statewide availability, fee, screening-criteria, report-source, or dispute-rights disclosure in ch. 5321 |
No special landlord itemized-receipt, report-copy, unused-fee, unconsidered-application, or rejection-refund rule in ch. 5321 |
No applicant-supplied, portable, or reusable tenant-screening-report rule in ch. 5321 |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state adverse-action procedure in ch. 5321 |
No application-fee-specific remedy or local-rule clause; § 5321.19 bars conflicting local measures and regulation of rights or obligations ch. 5321 regulates |
| Oklahoma verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of 41 O.S. §§ 101-136, 201 and 59 O.S. ch. 20; § 103 covers rental agreements for Oklahoma dwelling units, subject to § 104 exclusions |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or screening-report fees |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-purpose, vacancy, charge-when-considered, or multiple-concurrent-application restriction |
No special statewide availability, fee-basis, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or enforcement provision; audited statutes state no application-fee local-preemption clause |
| Oregon verified 2026-07-21 | ORS 90.100 and 90.295; residential applicant screening charges required by a chapter 90 landlord before a rental agreement, subject to § 90.110 exclusions |
One applicant screening charge allowed solely for obtaining applicant information; includes references, consumer credit reports, and tenant screening reports (§ 90.295(1)) |
No flat dollar/indexed cap; charge cannot exceed landlord's average actual screening cost or customary comparable company/agency charge (§ 90.295(2)) |
Actual costs may include screening-company/credit-agency cost + reasonable landlord/agent time; one charge per applicant per landlord in any 60 days; no charge if no unit unless applicant agrees in writing (§ 90.295(1)-(2), (4)) |
Before payment: written criteria; fee; usual screening process; dispute/appeal rights; nondiscrimination policies; rent/deposits; liability insurance; refund/damages rights; actual notice of estimated available units and pending applications (§ 90.295(3)) |
Fee receipt; after company/agency screening, prompt confirmation + copy of its receipt. Refund within 14 days if unit fills before screening or applicant withdraws in writing before screening is conducted/ordered; no report-copy duty (§ 90.295(1), (5)) |
No applicant-supplied or reusable-report acceptance/no-fee procedure in current § 90.295 |
No first-in-order or first-qualified rule and no separate state denial-reason notice in § 90.295; written criteria required, and precharge notice must disclose any appeal right |
Twice the paid screening charge + $250 for noncompliance or no screening/no timely refund; refusing a rental offer bars fee recovery. No fee-specific local-preemption clause (§ 90.295(6)) |
| Pennsylvania verified 2026-07-20 | No general application- or screening-fee provision in the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 or Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act |
Neither audited statewide Act specifically authorizes or prohibits an ordinary rental application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or screening charge |
No statewide dollar, actual-cost, customary-cost, or indexed ceiling in the audited Acts |
No special permitted-cost list, vacancy condition, charge-when-considered rule, or collection-timing rule |
No special statewide availability, fee, screening-criteria, report-source, or dispute-rights disclosure in the audited Acts |
No special itemized-receipt, report-copy, unused-fee, unconsidered-application, or rejection-refund rule |
No applicant-supplied, portable, or reusable screening-report rule |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state adverse-action procedure in the audited Acts |
No application-fee-specific damages or enforcement formula and no express application-fee local-preemption clause in the audited Acts |
| Rhode Island verified 2026-07-21 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-59; landlords, lessors, sublessors, real-estate brokers, property-management companies, and designees dealing with prospective tenants, subject to Chapter 34-18 exclusions |
Rental application fee prohibited; actual cost of required official state criminal-background check and/or credit report allowed only if applicant does not supply qualifying recent report (§ 34-18-59(a)-(b)) |
No more than actual cost of obtaining required official state background check and/or credit report; no numeric or indexed ceiling (§ 34-18-59(b)(2)) |
Charge only for required official state check/report missing from applicant's qualifying 90-day materials; landlord's independent check/report must be at landlord's expense (§ 34-18-59(b)) |
No special fee, unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure in § 34-18-59 |
Applicant charged for background check or credit report must receive a copy; no special fee receipt or unused/unconsidered-fee refund deadline (§ 34-18-59(b)(2)) |
No fee for required official state background check or credit report supplied by applicant if issued within 90 days; landlord may obtain independent report only at own expense (§ 34-18-59(b)(1), (3)) |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process in the fee statute |
Chapter rights enforceable by action; aggrieved party may recover appropriate damages and injunctive relief (§ 34-18-5); no fee-specific fixed damages or local-preemption/stronger-local-law clause |
| South Carolina verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of S.C. Code Title 27 ch. 40 and Title 40 ch. 57; Residential Landlord and Tenant Act covers rental agreements for South Carolina dwelling units, subject to § 27-40-120 exclusions |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or screening fees; application terms and general law govern |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-purpose, vacancy, charge-when-considered, or multiple-concurrent-application rule |
No special statewide availability, fee-basis, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening report acceptance/no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or enforcement provision; audited statutes state no application-fee local-preemption clause |
| South Dakota verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of SDCL chs. 43-32 and 36-21A; ch. 43-32 governs leases, while ch. 36-21A defines and licenses property managers and residential rental agents |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits residential application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or tenant-screening fees |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-component, unit-availability, charge-when-considered, multiple-concurrent-application, or repeat-charge restriction |
No special statewide application-fee, unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, reusable-report, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or enforcement provision; audited statutes state no application-fee local-preemption clause |
| Tennessee verified 2026-07-21 | Tenn. Code Ann. tit. 66, ch. 28 applies in counties above 75,000 population under the 2010 census, with § 66-28-102 exclusions; tit. 66, ch. 7 supplies general lease rules elsewhere; tit. 62, ch. 13 governs licensed real-estate transactions |
No application-fee-specific authorization or prohibition in audited tit. 66, chs. 7 and 28 or tit. 62, ch. 13; application/screening charges are distinct from statutory security deposits |
No special statewide dollar, actual-cost, customary-cost, or indexed application/screening-fee ceiling; the Real Estate Commission may not set fees or commissions for real-estate contracts or transactions (§ 62-13-204) |
No special screening-cost list, vacancy condition, charge-when-considered rule, multiple-application restriction, or collection-timing rule in the audited statutes |
No special statewide unit-availability, fee-basis, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or reusable-report disclosure before an ordinary residential application charge |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, screening-report-copy, unused-fee, excess-fee, duplicate-fee, unconsidered-application, or denial-refund procedure |
No applicant-supplied, portable, or reusable tenant-screening-report procedure in the audited statutes |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, refund-all, or state application-denial notice procedure in the audited statutes |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages; in URLTA counties, § 66-28-102 occupies and preempts the landlord-tenant field and bars county regulations that conflict with or add to ch. 28 (2021 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 182) |
| Texas verified 2026-07-20 | Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.351-.355; written residential rental applications, applicants/co-applicants, application fees, and application deposits |
Nonrefundable application fee may offset screening costs; separate application deposit is refundable if the applicant is rejected (§ 92.351(1), (1-a)) |
No statewide dollar, actual-cost, customary-cost, or indexed ceiling stated |
Fee is defined only as offsetting screening costs; no statutory cost-itemization or collection-timing rule beyond giving the criteria notice with the application |
Printed selection criteria and denial grounds must be made available when the application is provided; applicant signs the statutory acknowledgment (§ 92.3515(a)-(d)) |
No receipt or report-copy duty. If rejected without required criteria notice, return fee and deposit; mail a requested refund to the furnished address (§§ 92.3515(e)-(f), 92.353(b)) |
No applicant-supplied, portable, or reusable-report rule in Chapter 92 |
No priority rule. No acceptance notice by day 7 means rejection; rejecting one co-applicant rejects all; phone or timely postmarked mail may give notice (§§ 92.352-.353) |
Bad-faith refund failure: $100 + 3x wrongfully retained + reasonable attorney's fees; waiver void (§§ 92.354-.355). No local-preemption rule in this subchapter |
| Utah verified 2026-07-21 | Utah Code §§ 57-22-2, 57-22-4, and 57-22-7; owners, lessors, sublessors, and specified agents dealing with prospective renters of principal-residence units, excluding boarding/rooming facilities, mobile-home lots, and occasional recreational rentals |
Statute contemplates an application fee and any other applicant payment after disclosures; no separate statewide rule for credit-check, background-check, consumer-report, or tenant-screening fee labels (§ 57-22-4(3)) |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed application/screening-fee ceiling in the audited provisions |
No fee-component restriction; owner may not accept application fee or other payment until the written § 57-22-4(3) disclosures are made |
Before payment: good-faith rent and fixed-expense estimates; use-based-expense types; scheduled availability date; criminal, credit, income, employment, rental-history and other eligibility criteria; conditional refund requirements/process (§ 57-22-4(3)) |
No fee receipt or screening-report-copy duty. All money returned if timely written demand follows changed disclosed amount or undisclosed use-based expense; demand within 5 business days after agreement receipt, before signing/possession; owner refund within 5 business days (§ 57-22-4(4)) |
No applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance/no-fee procedure |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process; written eligibility criteria required before payment |
Conditional all-money refund; no fee-specific damages. A renter may not sue based on noncompliance with subsections (3)-(4); § 57-22-7 bars inconsistent local ordinances |
| Vermont verified 2026-07-21 | 9 V.S.A. § 4456a; landlords (owners, lessors, and applicable sublessors) and their agents charging an individual to apply for a residential dwelling unit; commercial and nonresidential applications excluded |
Application fee prohibited; § 4456a states no actual-cost exception and does not separately authorize an applicant-paid credit, background, or other screening-report charge |
$0 for the prohibited residential application fee; no separate numeric, actual-cost, customary-cost, or indexed screening-charge ceiling stated (§ 4456a(a)) |
No residential application-fee cost category or collection stage authorized; commercial and nonresidential applications are outside the prohibition (§ 4456a(a)) |
No special unit-availability, fee-amount, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure in § 4456a |
No special application-fee receipt, screening-report copy, or unused, excess, duplicate, or unconsidered-fee refund process stated in § 4456a |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable-report process; for a background or credit check, landlord must accept unexpired government ID, ITIN, or SSN as specified (§ 4456a(b)(1)) |
No first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process; landlord may not require an SSN to complete the application or refuse it for lack of an SSN (§ 4456a(b)(2)) |
Section 4456a states no fee-specific damages, penalty, cure, attorney-fee, or enforcement formula and no local-preemption or stronger-local-law clause |
| Virginia verified 2026-07-20 | Va. Code §§ 55.1-1201 and 55.1-1203; most single- and multifamily residential units, including public housing, subject to listed institutional, owner, no-rent, employment, contract-sale, recovery-residence, and transient-lodging exclusions |
Nonrefundable application fee allowed; refundable application deposit is separate and outside this survey (§ 55.1-1203(A), (C)) |
$50 application-fee cap; $32 for public housing or other HUD-regulated unit. Actual landlord-paid third-party check costs are additional; no indexing (§ 55.1-1203(C)) |
Actual out-of-pocket third-party background, credit, or other pre-occupancy checks may be added. No special fee timing now; pre-payment/information notice starts July 1, 2027 (§ 55.1-1203(C); future subsection A) |
None generally now. From July 1, 2027: written/accessible notice of fees, refundability, screening and denial criteria, reporting agency, and report-copy/dispute rights before any payment or information request |
No application-fee receipt, report-copy, or rejection-refund rule. Separate application-deposit balance and itemization due in 20 days, or 10 days for specified payment methods after landlord rejection (§ 55.1-1203(A)) |
No applicant-supplied or reusable-report rule in §§ 55.1-1201 or 55.1-1203 |
No general order or denial notice now; landlord must consider family-abuse evidence to mitigate low credit. Future notice discloses denial criteria and report rights, not a first-in-order process (§ 55.1-1203(D); future subsection A) |
Wrongfully withheld application-deposit amount + attorney fees; family-abuse-screening violation allows actual damages including paid fees + attorney fees. No fee-cap-specific formula; VRLTA supersedes local landlord-tenant ordinances (§§ 55.1-1203(A), (D), 55.1-1201(E)) |
| Washington verified 2026-07-20 | RCW 59.18.030, 59.18.040, and 59.18.257; prospective landlords/tenants under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, including owners, agents, managers, and persons advertising a dwelling |
Costs of obtaining a tenant screening report allowed after required notice; self-screening charges limited to actual costs. No separate flat application/processing-fee rule in § 59.18.257 |
No flat dollar cap. Third-party charge is costs incurred; self-screening charge is actual costs and cannot exceed customary local screening-service costs (§ 59.18.257(1)(b)) |
Disclosures must come before information is obtained; charge follows those disclosures. Self-screening actual costs include long-distance calls and time contacting landlords, employers, and financial institutions (§ 59.18.257(1)(a)-(b)) |
Written or posted notice of information types, denial criteria, reporting agency and report/dispute rights, and reusable-report acceptance; website homepage must state acceptance policy (§ 59.18.257(1)-(2)) |
No itemized receipt, landlord-supplied report copy, or fee-refund duty in § 59.18.257; if a consumer report is used, pre-screen notice must state free-copy and dispute rights after adverse action |
Acceptance elective. Qualifying report: applicant-directed/paid, direct and free to landlord, with a ≤30-day credit report plus criminal, eviction, employment, address, and rental history (§§ 59.18.030(4), .257) |
No first-in-order rule; denial or conditional approval requires the state-format written notice stating reasons and report-provider details when applicable (§ 59.18.257(1)(c)) |
Violation of subsection (1): liability up to $100; prevailing party may recover court costs and reasonable attorney fees. Section 59.18.257 states no local-preemption rule (§ 59.18.257(3)) |
| West Virginia verified 2026-07-21 | W. Va. Code § 37-6A-1(2), (14) defines an application fee and its relationship to a security deposit; Article 6A applies to all residential rental premises or dwelling units (§ 37-6A-6(a)) |
Application fee expressly recognized; exclusion from the security-deposit definition as nonrefundable requires the parties' express written agreement (§ 37-6A-1(14)) |
No numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No fee-component, vacancy, charge-when-considered, multiple-concurrent-application, or repeat-charge restriction |
Express written agreement required for nonrefundable status; no special unit-availability, fee-basis, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, or application-order disclosure |
No application-fee-specific receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or return deadline; Article 6A's security-deposit return rule is not expressly written as an application-fee refund clock |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
Article-wide waiver and willful-or-bad-faith noncompliance remedies exist (§§ 37-6A-4 to -5), but no application-fee-specific damages formula; no application-fee local-preemption or stronger-local-law clause |
| Wisconsin verified 2026-07-21 | Wis. Stat. § 704.085 and Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.01-.05; ATCP chapter covers Wisconsin dwelling rentals but excludes 7 listed institutional, transient, employment, agricultural, and government categories |
Payment to landlord for considering application = refundable/creditable earnest money, however labeled; separate credit-report charge allowed; background-check charge allowed only for non-Wisconsin resident (§ 704.085; ATCP 134.02(3), 134.05) |
Credit report: actual cost, max $25; qualifying nonresident background check: actual cost, max $25; no numeric earnest-money ceiling, but it is not a retained application fee and withholding is limited (Wis. Stat. § 704.085; ATCP 134.05(3)-(4)) |
Identify unit(s) before taking earnest money; notify applicant of credit/background charge before requesting report; after approval and refusal to sign, earnest money may cover only actual costs/damages, with rent-loss mitigation (ATCP 134.05; § 704.085) |
Before earnest money, identify dwelling unit(s) under consideration; before ordering charged credit/background report, disclose charge; no special statewide criteria, vacancy, report-source, dispute-right, or processing-order disclosure |
Immediate earnest-money receipt unless qualifying check notation (receipt still due on request); report copy for each charged credit/background check; full earnest-money refund by next business day on listed rejection/withdrawal/no-timely-approval events (ATCP 134.03(2), 134.05(2); § 704.085) |
No credit-report charge if applicant supplies nationwide-CRA report less than 30 days old before landlord requests one; landlord may obtain newer report at own expense; no comparable background or reusable-screening-report rule (§ 704.085(1)(b); ATCP 134.05(4)(b)) |
No first-in-order or state denial-reason notice; earnest money generally refunded next business day after rejection, pre-acceptance withdrawal, or no approval within 3 business days (written extension allowed, max 21 calendar days) (ATCP 134.05(2)) |
ATCP violation causing pecuniary loss: twice the loss plus costs and reasonable attorney fee (§ 100.20(5)); nonconflicting local rules survive, but § 66.0104 bars extra local earnest-money requirements, certain screening limits, and extra landlord-to-tenant communications |
| Wyoming verified 2026-07-21 | No general statewide application/screening-fee statute after audit of W.S. §§ 1-21-1201 to -1211 and ch. 33-28; the former governs residential owners and renters, while the latter covers licensed leasing activity |
No statewide provision specifically authorizes or prohibits residential application, processing, credit-check, background-check, or tenant-screening fees |
No statewide numeric, actual-cost, reasonable-cost, customary-cost, per-applicant, per-household, or indexed ceiling in the audited statutes |
No statewide fee-component, unit-availability, charge-when-considered, multiple-concurrent-application, or repeat-charge restriction |
No special statewide application-fee, unit-availability, screening-criteria, report-source, dispute-right, reusable-report, or application-order disclosure |
No special statewide application-fee receipt, landlord-obtained-report-copy, unused-fee refund, or unconsidered-application refund rule |
No statewide applicant-supplied or reusable screening-report acceptance or no-fee procedure |
No statewide first-in-order, first-qualified, single-application, or state denial-reason notice process for rental applications |
No application-fee-specific statutory damages or enforcement provision; audited statutes state no application-fee local-preemption clause |
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