At least nine US states have passed laws restricting how businesses can charge, disclose, or advertise mandatory fees. Several go further than the federal rule, with broader scope and sometimes private rights of action.
Since 2024, at least nine US states have passed laws restricting how businesses can charge, disclose, or advertise mandatory fees. These laws generally go further than the federal FTC Junk Fees Rule, covering more industries and sometimes providing private rights of action for consumers.
This is one of the fastest-moving areas of consumer protection law. The landscape changes frequently as states pass, amend, and begin enforcing new rules.
This guide summarizes the current state of junk fee laws by jurisdiction and what they mean for consumers.
The federal FTC Junk Fees Rule covers only two industries: short-term lodging and live-event ticketing. State laws often cover much more: restaurants, retail, utilities, subscription services, housing, and in some cases almost any consumer transaction.
Several features distinguish the strongest state laws:
State laws are federal law's "floor, not ceiling," meaning they can go further than federal rules without conflicting with them.
Law: SB 478 (effective July 1, 2024)
Scope: Applies to most consumer goods and services. Prohibits advertising, displaying, or offering a price that does not include all mandatory fees or charges.
Key provisions:
Notable exemptions: Healthcare, financial services, and some regulated industries have narrower coverage.
Enforcement: California Attorney General is active. Private class actions began appearing almost immediately after effective date.
Law: Various provisions in New York General Business Law
Scope: Live-event ticket sales (pricing transparency requirements). Restrictions on hidden fees in specific industries (hotels, rentals).
Key provisions:
Enforcement: New York Attorney General has been active on hidden fees, particularly in entertainment and lodging.
Law: Junk fee regulation effective September 2025
Scope: Broadly applicable to consumer transactions
Key provisions:
Enforcement: Massachusetts Attorney General's office traditionally active in consumer protection.
Law: Junk fee legislation passed in 2024 session
Scope: Broad consumer protection coverage
Key provisions: Requires disclosure of total price including mandatory fees for most consumer goods and services
Enforcement: Minnesota Attorney General enforcement authority.
Law: Consumer protection amendments including junk fee provisions
Scope: Broad, with specific provisions for food and beverage establishments and delivery network companies
Key provisions:
Enforcement: Colorado Attorney General has coordinated with FTC on enforcement actions (notably the Greystar rental fee case).
Law: Junk fee disclosure requirements
Scope: Broadly applicable
Enforcement: Maryland Attorney General and Consumer Protection Division.
Law: Consumer fee transparency provisions in Unfair Trade Practices Act
Scope: Consumer goods and services broadly
Enforcement: Connecticut Attorney General has joined federal actions (including joint action with FTC on auto dealer fees).
Law: Consumer fee disclosure requirements
Scope: Live-event tickets with specific requirements for secondary ticketing platforms
Enforcement: Tennessee Attorney General enforcement.
Law: Effective July 2025
Scope: Consumer transactions with exemptions for certain regulated industries (vehicle sales, utilities, telecommunications, real estate commissions, air transportation)
Enforcement: Virginia Attorney General.
Some industries feel the effect of state junk fee laws more than others.
Short-term lodging (hotels, vacation rentals): Multiple state laws in addition to the federal FTC rule. Resort fees are the primary target.
Live-event ticketing: State laws often require "all-in" pricing matching or exceeding the federal rule.
Rental housing: Following the FTC/Colorado Greystar settlement in December 2025, several states are considering additional rental fee legislation.
Food service: California and Colorado specifically regulate restaurant service fees, "wellness fees," and similar charges.
Retail: California's broad law affects retail advertising and pricing.
Telecommunications: Usually exempted from general state junk fee laws because the federal FCC has primary jurisdiction, though state AGs can still pursue deception claims under general consumer protection law.
Document the discrepancy:
Complain to the appropriate authority:
Dispute the charge:
Consider legal action:
Not every hidden fee is a legal violation. The key question is whether the advertised price failed to include mandatory fees, not just whether a fee was unexpected.
State junk fee laws are a rapidly evolving area. Trends to watch:
Many states don't have specific "junk fee" legislation but do have general consumer protection laws (often called "Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices" or UDAP statutes) that cover hidden fees under broader deception theories.
Examples of potentially applicable state laws:
The protection is typically narrower than dedicated junk fee laws, but still meaningful.
This is consumer information based on publicly available state statutes, regulations, and consumer protection authority guidance. The landscape changes frequently. This information may be outdated by the time you read it. This is not legal advice. Consult a consumer-protection attorney in your state for specific advice.
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SneakyFees is a product of Cypher Works LLC. Not affiliated with any state government. For informational purposes only. Not legal or financial advice. Individual results vary.