Can my landlord charge me a package locker or delivery fee?
If it's in your lease, a package locker fee is generally enforceable. However, mandatory fees for services you didn't request (like a smart locker system) are increasingly challenged as junk fees, especially if added mid-lease.
Package lockers have become the latest amenity fee trend. Property management companies install smart locker systems and then charge each tenant $5-15 per month — whether you use it or not. Some even require all packages to be delivered to the locker, making it impossible to opt out.
If the fee was in your lease when you signed, it's likely enforceable. If it was added after signing (mid-lease), you have grounds to refuse. Your lease is a contract, and the landlord can't unilaterally add new charges.
The bigger question is whether mandatory package fees will survive the regulatory crackdown on junk fees. The FTC and several state legislatures are targeting hidden mandatory fees in apartment rentals. If you're being charged for a locker you never use, it's worth checking whether your state has new junk fee regulations.
How This Works State by State
The rules vary depending on where you live. Here's how the biggest states handle it.
Under California's Tenant Protection Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2), package locker fees must be included in the advertised rental price.
Texas allows package locker fees if included in the lease under Tex. Prop. Code Chapter 92, with no specific regulation on this charge.
New York's fee restrictions (N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-b) may limit mandatory package locker fees that aren't specifically authorized.
Florida allows package locker fees included in the lease under Fla. Stat. § 83.46, with no specific regulation on delivery charges.
Under Chicago RLTO § 5-12-080, package locker fees must be disclosed in the lease. Mid-lease additions may violate the ordinance.
| State | Rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| California | California's junk fee regulations require all mandatory fees to be disclosed in the advertised rent price. Package fees added mid-lease may violate the Tenant Protection Act. | Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2 |
| Texas | Texas allows package locker fees if included in the lease. No specific junk fee regulation addresses package delivery charges. | Tex. Prop. Code Chapter 92 |
| New York | New York's fee restrictions under the 2019 reforms may apply to mandatory package fees. Fees not authorized by statute face scrutiny. | N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-b |
| Florida | Florida allows package fees if in the lease agreement. No specific regulation addresses package delivery charges. | Fla. Stat. § 83.46 |
| Illinois | Chicago RLTO requires all mandatory fees to be disclosed in the lease. Package fees added after signing may violate disclosure requirements. | Chicago RLTO § 5-12-080 |
●Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord charge me a package locker or delivery fee?
If it's in your lease, a package locker fee is generally enforceable. However, mandatory fees for services you didn't request (like a smart locker system) are increasingly challenged as junk fees, especially if added mid-lease.
Can my landlord charge me excessive late fees?
Late fees must be reasonable and are capped in many states. A late fee that's disproportionate to the landlord's actual cost of the late payment may be unenforceable as a "penalty" rather than legitimate damages.
Can my landlord charge a non-refundable application fee?
Most states allow application fees to cover screening costs (credit check, background check), but many cap the amount. Some states require the fee to reflect actual screening costs only.
Can my landlord charge me mandatory amenity fees on top of rent?
Yes, in most states — if the fees are disclosed in your lease. But "junk fees" that aren't clearly disclosed before signing or that bundle unwanted services are facing increasing regulation and legal challenges.
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DepositHawk is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Information and documents are for informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship is created. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.