North Carolina landlord guide
Deposit limits, entry notice, termination notice and rent increase rules for North Carolina, with the sources they come from.
North Carolina landlord-tenant rules at a glance
- Security deposit limit
- 2 wks rent week-to-week; 1.5 mo month-to-month; 2 mo for longer terms
- Deposit return / claim rule
- 30 days
- Deposit interest
- Not required; held in trust account or bond (G.S. 42-50)
- Notice before entry
- No state statute; the lease controls entry
- Ending a month-to-month
- 7 days before end of the month for month-to-month (G.S. 42-14)
- Notice before a rent increase
- No state statute; changing rent requires ending tenancy on 7 days' notice
- Late fees
- After 5 days late: greater of $15 or 5% of monthly rent, once per payment
- Rent control
- None; state law bars local rent control (G.S. 42-14.1)
General information from the Tenant Security Deposit Act, N.C.G.S. ch. 42, art. 6, last reviewed 2026-08-21. Not legal advice; municipal bylaws can add requirements.
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