Maryland Landlord-Tenant Laws

Deposit within 30 days; interest accrues monthly after 6 months

• Must hold in federally insured financial institution doing business in Maryland
• Account must be in a Maryland branch
• Account must be exclusively devoted to security deposits (no commingling)
• Account must bear interest
• Alternatively: may hold in insured certificates of deposit or federal/state government securities
• +7 more requirements

45 days after the end of the tenancy

• Must return deposit plus accrued interest within 45 days after end of tenancy
• If withholding any portion: must provide itemized written statement of damages with supporting documentation
• Supporting documentation must identify estimated or actual cost of repairs (§ 8-203(j))
• If landlord provides estimated costs: must notify tenant when repairs are completed and send final invoices
• If actual costs are less than estimate: must return the difference within 30 days of completing repairs
• +4 more requirements

10-day written notice before filing; hearing typically 5 days after filing

• Landlord must provide written notice stating amount of rent due and intent to file complaint
• Tenant has 10 days to pay the full amount due
• If tenant does not pay within 10 days, landlord may file complaint for Failure to Pay Rent in District Court
• Filing fee: approximately $15
• Court schedules hearing — tenant receives summary ejectment proceeding notice within 3 days of filing
• +8 more requirements

• 10 days to pay or face filing
• 14-day notice to quit
• 30-day notice to quit
• 60-day written notice
• No notice required (lease expired)

• Lease violation (general breach): 30-day notice to quit (§ 8-402.1)
• Imminent threat to property or persons: 14-day notice to quit (§ 8-402.1)
• Holding over after fixed-term lease expires: landlord may file without additional notice
• Month-to-month termination (no cause): 60-day written notice before next rental period (§ 8-402(c))
• Notice should be sent by first-class mail, posted on unit, or sent electronically if agreed
• +5 more requirements

Written notice to landlord; reasonable time to repair (30 days presumptively unreasonable); then rent escrow available

• Landlord must maintain premises in habitable condition with working utilities, appliances, and no hazardous conditions
• Required services: heat, light, electricity, hot and cold running water, proper sewage disposal
• If landlord fails to repair conditions that threaten life, health, or safety: tenant may send written notice by certified mail
• If landlord does not repair within a reasonable time: tenant may file rent escrow action in court
• 30-day period without repair is presumptively unreasonable (rebuttable based on severity)
• +6 more requirements

Per lease terms; late fee cap applies statewide

• Late fee maximum: 5% of the amount of late rent (HB 273, effective 2025)
• No state-mandated grace period (but may exist in lease or local law)
• Landlord must give receipt for any cash rent payment (§ 8-208.3)
• Landlord may only increase rent when lease is renewed — must provide 90 days' written notice of any rent increase in most cases
• No statewide rent control, but some local jurisdictions have rent stabilization (Montgomery County)
• +2 more requirements

No state-mandated notice period; lease terms and common law govern

• Maryland does NOT have a comprehensive state statute requiring advance entry notice
• Entry rights are primarily governed by lease agreement terms
• Covenant of quiet enjoyment provides tenant the right to undisturbed use (§ 8-204)
• Landlord may not interfere with tenant's quiet enjoyment through harassment or unauthorized entry
• Emergency entry generally permitted without notice under common law
• +3 more requirements

At or before lease signing

• Must provide written security deposit receipt with specific tenant rights information (§ 8-203.1)
• Must disclose: landlord's name, address, and phone number in the lease or on a posted sign (§ 8-210)
• Must disclose: person authorized to accept notice or service of process on landlord's behalf
• Must provide Tenants' Bill of Rights at lease signing (required by HB 693, effective 10/1/2024)
• Must provide pet policy link on property website (if applicable) and written copy in rental application (§ 8-210)
• +6 more requirements

Ongoing; applies to all housing transactions

• Federal Fair Housing Act protections: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability
• Maryland adds: marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity
• Source of income discrimination prohibited statewide (includes Housing Choice Vouchers/Section 8)
• Must make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities
• Must allow reasonable modifications for disability (tenant may be responsible for restoration costs)
• +4 more requirements

Effective October 1, 2024 (HB 693) and July 1, 2025 (Tenants' Bill of Rights document)

• Landlord must provide copy of Maryland Tenants' Bill of Rights at lease signing
• 7-day delay before Warrant of Restitution can be executed after judgment
• Evictions stayed during extreme weather events
• Security deposit reduced to 1 month's rent maximum (effective 10/1/2024) with narrow exceptions
• Late fees capped at 5% of overdue rent amount
• +7 more requirements