Verified state application-fee rules

Apartment Application Fee Rules by State

An “application fee” is not one nationwide charge type. California regulates screening cost and application-processing order, New York sharply limits beginning-of-tenancy application charges, Oregon uses a cost-based screening charge with a 60-day repeat-charge restriction, Texas separates a nonrefundable application fee from a refundable application deposit, Virginia sets a landlord application-fee ceiling, and Washington conditions screening-cost charges on advance disclosure and uses actual/customary-cost rules for landlord-performed screening.

Calculate Total Move-In Cost →All State Guides

6dedicated state topics

Sourceverified before inclusion

50state fallback layer

Why this is not a 50-page template

Only states with a dedicated source-verified topic appear below. If a state does not add an exact rule for this issue, use the broader state source layer instead of a thin page that repeats generic advice.

California — Application Screening Fees
Civil Code § 1950.6 ties the fee to actual screening costs and a CPI-adjusted ceiling, requires a receipt and credit-report copy, and uses one of two application-processing/refund systems.New York — Application & Screening Fees
RPL § 238-a generally bars application/beginning-of-tenancy charges except permitted background and credit checks, limited to actual cost or $20, whichever is less, with supporting documents.Oregon — Application Screening Fees
ORS 90.295 limits the charge to actual/customary screening cost, allows only one screening charge from the applicant within 60 days for the landlord’s units, and requires written criteria/process information, receipts and specified refunds.Texas — Rental Application Fees & Deposits
Texas defines a nonrefundable application fee separately from a refundable application deposit and can require a rejected applicant’s fee/deposit to be returned when tenant-selection criteria were not made available.Virginia — Application Fees & Deposits
Virginia’s current § 55.1-1203 caps the landlord application fee at $50 ($32 for specified HUD-regulated units), separately permits actual third-party screening costs and gives refundable application deposits their own timeline.Washington — Tenant Screening Fees
RCW 59.18.257 requires screening disclosures before information is obtained, conditions screening-report charges on that notice, limits landlord-performed screening to actual/customary costs and requires an adverse-action notice when applicable.

Start by naming the payment correctly

A screening fee, application fee, application deposit, holding deposit, reservation payment, administration fee and broker fee can be different legal and accounting categories. Before comparing dollar limits, identify what the property actually calls the payment, whether it is refundable and what event triggers a refund or retention.

Six verified states use different review models

California: actual screening cost + CPI-adjusted statutory ceiling + application-order/refund process.
New York: broad restriction on application/beginning-of-tenancy fees with a narrow background/credit-check exception.
Oregon: actual/customary screening-cost ceiling + one charge per 60 days + written criteria/process disclosure + no-screening refund rules.
Texas: application fee versus application deposit + tenant-selection-criteria disclosure and acknowledgment.
Virginia: application-fee ceiling + separately permitted third-party screening expenses + application-deposit refund timeline.
Washington: screening notice before information is obtained + notice-conditioned screening charge + actual/customary cost for landlord-performed screening + adverse-action notice.

Documents to save before paying

Listing and application page showing the fee before payment.
Written screening or tenant-selection criteria.
Receipt identifying each applicant and each payment.
Background/credit report and third-party screening invoice when the charge is tied to screening.
Reusable tenant screening report policy where relevant.
Application-deposit, holding-deposit or reservation terms kept separate from the screening fee.
Application submission timestamp, written withdrawal when relevant, decision/adverse-action notice and any refund record.

Why only verified states appear here

RentBillCheck does not create a thin “application fee law” page for every state. This hub includes states only when a verified state source layer adds a concrete application or screening rule that changes the renter’s review workflow. For other states, start with the general Application Fee guide and the broader state hub.

Educational information only. A state rule, company charge sheet or invoice does not by itself decide an individual dispute. The exact lease, condition, dates, evidence and local rules can change the result.