Compliance By State

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Landlords may not charge application fees (Recommend Landlord pay option)
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No limit, but can't exceed actual costs of screening
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No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
If a prospective landlord conducts screening of tenants, the prospective landlord may charge actual costs in obtaining the background information only if the prospective landlord first provides the information as required by law (see hyperlink info, section 1. a). The amount charged may not exceed the customary costs charged by a screening service in the general area
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No rental application requirements or fee limits
Fees limited to $62.02
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No limit when amount is based on actual costs for screening
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No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
The amount of any applicant screening charge must not be greater than the landlord"s average actual cost of screening applicants or the customary amount charged by tenant screening companies or consumer credit reporting agencies for a comparable level of screening
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No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
Landlord may not charge application fees (Recommend Landlord pay option)
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No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits

2-Step Process (Cooke County, IL):
Just Housing Amendment to the Human Rights Ordinance
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
$50 plus any actual out-of-pocket screening costs. Tenant application fee limitations do not apply to 3rd party services utilized by the landlord, owner or real estate agent.
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May charge up to $20 for a credit report and must supply applicant with a copy (Recommend Landlord pay option)
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No rental application requirements or fee limits
10% of the monthly rent or $50 (Recommend Landlord pay option)
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No limit, the landlord may retain only that portion of the fees actually expended for a credit check, but any unsent fees greater than $25 must be returned within 15 days
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2-Step Process (Montgomery County, MD):
Fair criminal screenings and credit screenings

2-Step Process (Washington, D.C.):
Fair Criminal Record Screening for Housing Act
No rental application requirements or fee limits

2-Step Process:
Fair Chance in Housing Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-52 et seq.)
May charge a fee or fees to reimburse costs associated with conducting a background check and credit check, provided the cumulative fees for such checks is no more than the actual cost of the background check / credit check or $20, whichever is less (Recommend Landlord pay option)
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No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No rental application requirements or fee limits
No limit when amount is based on actual costs for screening
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Click on a state to find out more information. On mobile devices you can zoom in and press states. Zoom out to read the information in the black box below the map.

*Note: Seek legal counsel if you have specific questions regarding tenant application fees and regulations. This information is not exhaustive and should not replace the guidance of an attorney. RentRisk is not responsible or liable for leasing decisions made by the owner, landlord or real estate agent.

Two-Step Process Explained: For criminal background assessments: Some states, counties, and the District of Columbia prohibit early-stage inquires into criminal histories when evaluating a prospective tenant’s application.

  1. Landlords cannot disregard a tenant cased solely on past criminal record;
  2. Landlords should only perform comprehensive background checks after a conditional acceptance is offered. Once a conditional acceptance has been offered to a tenant based on income verification and references check, then an inquiry into a criminal background can be made.
  3. In the cases where disqualifying offenses are determined in the process, offers for tenancy can be rescinded.