Maryland Landlord-Tenant Laws: Key Rental Rules (2026)
Security deposits, notice periods, landlord entry, and other key rental rules in Maryland, each linked to the state law it comes from.
By the ListMyHomes.com™ Editorial TeamPublished Last reviewed
This page summarizes the main landlord-tenant rules in Maryland. Each rule in the table below links to the law it comes from.
Key rules at a glance
| Rule | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Where these laws apply | The landlord-tenant subtitle that begins at Real Property § 8-201 applies only to residential leases, unless otherwise provided. It does not cover a seller who stays in a sold owner-occupied home for up to 60 days after settlement under an agreement with the buyer. A few provisions apply only in, or do not apply in, a named county or Baltimore City; for example, § 8-210(b) applies only in Montgomery County and § 8-402(c)(3) does not apply in Baltimore City. Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-201, 8-210(b)(1), 8-402(c)(3)(ii) |
| Security deposit limit | No more than 1 month's rent per unit, regardless of the number of tenants. Up to 2 months' rent is allowed only if the tenant qualifies for utility assistance through the Department of Human Services, the lease requires the tenant to pay for utilities directly to the landlord, and both agree in writing to the amount. Last month's rent paid in advance counts as part of the deposit. A landlord may not require a surety bond and need not accept one; a surety bond bought instead of a deposit, or a bond and deposit together, may not exceed 2 months' rent per unit. A lease may not require the tenant to pay more than the deposit plus the first month's rent to start the lease and move in. If a landlord charges more than the 1-month limit, the tenant may recover up to 3 times the extra amount plus reasonable attorney's fees. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(a)(3), (b), (i)(1), (i)(3); § 8-208(d)(11) |
| Where deposits are held | Deposits must be kept in federally insured financial institutions that do business in Maryland, in accounts at Maryland branches that are used only for security deposits and bear interest. Each deposit must go into such an account within 30 days after the landlord receives it. Instead, a landlord may hold deposits in insured certificates of deposit at Maryland branches of federally insured financial institutions, or in securities issued by the federal government or the State of Maryland. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(d)(1)-(2) |
| Returning the deposit | Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit with interest, less any damages rightfully withheld. If any part is withheld, the landlord must send, by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address within those 45 days, a written list of the damages claimed with an itemized statement of the costs; a landlord who does not loses the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages. If the landlord, without a reasonable basis, fails to return any part of the deposit and interest within 45 days, the tenant may recover up to 3 times the amount withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees. A tenant who was evicted or ejected for breach of the lease, or who abandoned the home, before the tenancy ended may demand the deposit by first-class mail within 45 days, giving a new address; the landlord then has 45 days after receiving that notice to send the list of damages and return the deposit with interest, less damages rightfully withheld. A lease cannot waive these rules. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)(1), (e)(4), (g), (h), (l) |
| Deposit deductions | A deposit may be kept only for unpaid rent, damage due to breach of the lease, and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear by the tenant or the tenant's family, agents, employees, guests or invitees to the home, common areas, major appliances and furnishings owned by the landlord. The deposit is not liquidated damages: for a breach of the lease, the landlord may keep only the amount of actual damage or a court surcharge the Courts Article allows. The itemized statement of costs must include supporting documentation identifying the materials or services; an estimate may be used, and then the landlord must tell the tenant in writing when the repairs are done, with a copy of the final invoice, and refund within 30 days any amount withheld above the actual costs. A tenant who tells the landlord by certified mail, at least 15 days before moving, of the move, the moving date and a new address has the right to be present at the move-out inspection, which must take place within 5 days before or after the moving date; a landlord who does not follow this procedure loses the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(f), (j), (k) |
| Interest on deposits | Required: simple interest at the daily U.S. Treasury yield curve rate for 1 year as of the first business day of each year, or 1.5% a year, whichever is greater, paid with the deposit when it is returned. Interest accrues monthly from the day the deposit is paid and is not compounded; none is due unless the landlord has held the deposit at least 6 months, none for a partial month, and none on deposits under $50. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)(1)-(3) |
| Landlord entry notice | At least 24 hours' written notice, giving the date and approximate time and the specific purpose of the entry. Entry is only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, unless the tenant agrees in writing to another time. Notice goes by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, by a paper notice on the door, or, if the tenant chose electronic delivery, by email, text message or tenant portal. No notice is needed in an emergency, and a tenant may agree in writing to shorter notice. Permitted purposes are repairs, maintenance and improvements; inspections; showing the home to buyers, lenders, tenants or contractors; protecting the property and occupants; work ordered by a government entity; and other written requests of the tenant. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-221(a)-(c) |
| Notice to end a month-to-month lease | A landlord must give written notice of the intent to end a tenancy from month to month, or a written lease for a stated term of more than 1 week, 60 days before it expires. For tenancies from week to week, the notice is 7 days with a written lease and 21 days without one; tenancies from year to year need 90 days (180 days for farm tenancies other than tobacco farms). Shorter notice applies in some cases where the landlord has received notice of an intended foreclosure. Outside Baltimore City, written notice from the landlord is not needed if the tenant gave oral notice of moving out at least 30 days before the end of the tenancy (longer for tenancies from year to year) and the landlord proves it. A written lease may not require the tenant to give longer notice to end the tenancy than the landlord must give, and may not shorten the landlord's notice below the legal minimum, though the parties may agree to a longer period. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402(c)(1)-(4); § 8-501; § 8-208(d)(5) |
| Rent-increase notice | Written notice before any rent increase: at least 90 days for a tenancy for a term of more than 1 month; 60 days for a term of more than 1 week but not more than 1 month; and for a term of 1 week or less, 7 days with a written lease or 21 days without one. The notice goes by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing or, if the tenant chose it, by email, text message or tenant portal; a landlord may not make accepting a lease application depend on that choice. These rules apply to residential leases, but not after the landlord has given written notice to end the tenancy under § 8-402(c)(2). A landlord may not arbitrarily raise the rent because the tenant made a good-faith complaint, filed or took part in a lawsuit against the landlord, joined a tenants' organization, or because someone called police or emergency services to the property. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-209; § 8-208.1(a) |
| Late fees | A lease may not set a late penalty above 5% of the unpaid rent due for the rental period that was paid late. For rent paid in weekly installments, the late penalty may not be more than $3 per week (the statute adds "or a total of no more than $12 per month"). A lease term that breaks these limits is unenforceable by the landlord. No grace period in Maryland Real Property Article, Title 8. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3), (g)(1) |
| Notice for unpaid rent | Before filing an eviction case for unpaid rent, the landlord must give the tenant written notice, on a form created by the Maryland Judiciary, that the landlord will file if the tenant does not cure within 10 days. The notice is given by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, by posting it on the door, or, if the tenant chose it, by email, text message or tenant portal; the complaint must state the date the notice was given. If the tenant pays the rent and late fees the court finds due, plus court costs, at the trial, the case is entered as satisfied. After a judgment for possession, the tenant may redeem the home by paying all past-due amounts the court determined plus court costs and fees at any time before the eviction is carried out, unless three judgments of possession for unpaid rent were entered against the tenant in the prior 12 months. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401(c), (e)(5), (h) |
| Rent control | No limit set by Maryland Real Property Article, Title 8. A county or municipality that adopts a local law limiting rent increases for current tenants must report it to the General Assembly, and later report building-permit numbers for new multifamily rental housing. That reporting section does not authorize a local jurisdiction to adopt such a limit. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-209.1 |
| Required landlord disclosures | The lease, or a sign posted in a conspicuous place on the property, must give the name, address and phone number of the landlord or of the person authorized to accept notices and legal papers for the landlord. Every lease must include a statement about the condition of the home, each side's duties for heat, gas, electricity, water and repairs, a receipt for the security deposit, and a copy of the current Maryland Tenants' Bill of Rights. The deposit receipt, included in the written lease, must explain the tenant's rights to move-in and move-out inspections, to a written list of charges and to the return of the deposit within 45 days, and the penalty of up to 3 times the amount withheld; a landlord who gives no written receipt owes the tenant $25. A landlord who offers 5 or more units for rent in Maryland must use a written lease. When the lease is signed, the landlord must give the tenant the mold pamphlet developed or used under Environment Article § 6-1702 and ask the tenant to sign an acknowledgment of receipt. The property's pet policy (breed and weight limits, fees and deposits, pet limits, vaccination and insurance requirements) must be in every rental application form, and linked on the property's website if it has one. For an "affected property" under Environment Article § 6-801 (a property with a rental unit built before 1950 or, on and after January 1, 2015, built before 1978, or one whose owner opts in; some properties are exempt), the owner must, when a lease is signed or a tenancy begins, give the tenant the required notice of the tenant's rights under Environment Article §§ 6-817 and 6-819, with a copy of the current verified inspection certificate, and a lead poisoning information packet. Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-203(c), 8-203.1, 8-208(a)(1), (c), 8-210(a)(1), (c), 8-220(b); Md. Code, Envir. §§ 6-801(b), 6-820(b), (d), 6-823(b) Federal law: For housing built before 1978 (with limited exceptions): before the tenant is bound by the lease, the landlord must give the EPA lead-hazard pamphlet and disclose any known lead-based paint or hazards and any available reports. 42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR 745.107 |
| Fair housing protected classes | Race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, source of income and military status. Marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income and military status appear in Maryland's law but not in the federal list. Md. Code, State Gov't § 20-705(a); 42 U.S.C. § 3604 |
What this means for renters
Before you sign, compare the lease's deposit amount, rent due date, and late-fee terms with the rules above. At move-in, record the unit's condition with dated photos. When you move out, give the written notice your lease and the rules above call for, leave a forwarding address, and keep copies of everything you send and receive.
What this means for landlords who manage their own rental
List the unit with its rent, deposit, and lease terms. Screen every applicant by the same written criteria, within fair-housing law. Collect the deposit and give notices following the rules above, and keep records of the unit's condition at move-in and move-out.
List your rental on ListMyHomes.com for one flat fee, or browse rentals in Maryland listed directly by owners.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Maryland?
No more than 1 month's rent per unit, regardless of the number of tenants. Up to 2 months' rent is allowed only if the tenant qualifies for utility assistance through the Department of Human Services, the lease requires the tenant to pay for utilities directly to the landlord, and both agree in writing to the amount. Last month's rent paid in advance counts as part of the deposit. A landlord may not require a surety bond and need not accept one; a surety bond bought instead of a deposit, or a bond and deposit together, may not exceed 2 months' rent per unit. A lease may not require the tenant to pay more than the deposit plus the first month's rent to start the lease and move in. If a landlord charges more than the 1-month limit, the tenant may recover up to 3 times the extra amount plus reasonable attorney's fees. See the source in the table above.
How long does a Maryland landlord have to return a security deposit?
Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit with interest, less any damages rightfully withheld. If any part is withheld, the landlord must send, by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address within those 45 days, a written list of the damages claimed with an itemized statement of the costs; a landlord who does not loses the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages. If the landlord, without a reasonable basis, fails to return any part of the deposit and interest within 45 days, the tenant may recover up to 3 times the amount withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees. A tenant who was evicted or ejected for breach of the lease, or who abandoned the home, before the tenancy ended may demand the deposit by first-class mail within 45 days, giving a new address; the landlord then has 45 days after receiving that notice to send the list of damages and return the deposit with interest, less damages rightfully withheld. A lease cannot waive these rules. See the source in the table above.
How much notice must a Maryland landlord give before entering?
At least 24 hours' written notice, giving the date and approximate time and the specific purpose of the entry. Entry is only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, unless the tenant agrees in writing to another time. Notice goes by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, by a paper notice on the door, or, if the tenant chose electronic delivery, by email, text message or tenant portal. No notice is needed in an emergency, and a tenant may agree in writing to shorter notice. Permitted purposes are repairs, maintenance and improvements; inspections; showing the home to buyers, lenders, tenants or contractors; protecting the property and occupants; work ordered by a government entity; and other written requests of the tenant. See the source in the table above.
How much notice ends a month-to-month lease in Maryland?
A landlord must give written notice of the intent to end a tenancy from month to month, or a written lease for a stated term of more than 1 week, 60 days before it expires. For tenancies from week to week, the notice is 7 days with a written lease and 21 days without one; tenancies from year to year need 90 days (180 days for farm tenancies other than tobacco farms). Shorter notice applies in some cases where the landlord has received notice of an intended foreclosure. Outside Baltimore City, written notice from the landlord is not needed if the tenant gave oral notice of moving out at least 30 days before the end of the tenancy (longer for tenancies from year to year) and the landlord proves it. A written lease may not require the tenant to give longer notice to end the tenancy than the landlord must give, and may not shorten the landlord's notice below the legal minimum, though the parties may agree to a longer period. See the source in the table above.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Maryland?
Written notice before any rent increase: at least 90 days for a tenancy for a term of more than 1 month; 60 days for a term of more than 1 week but not more than 1 month; and for a term of 1 week or less, 7 days with a written lease or 21 days without one. The notice goes by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing or, if the tenant chose it, by email, text message or tenant portal; a landlord may not make accepting a lease application depend on that choice. These rules apply to residential leases, but not after the landlord has given written notice to end the tenancy under § 8-402(c)(2). A landlord may not arbitrarily raise the rent because the tenant made a good-faith complaint, filed or took part in a lawsuit against the landlord, joined a tenants' organization, or because someone called police or emergency services to the property. See the source in the table above.
How much can a Maryland landlord charge for late rent?
A lease may not set a late penalty above 5% of the unpaid rent due for the rental period that was paid late. For rent paid in weekly installments, the late penalty may not be more than $3 per week (the statute adds "or a total of no more than $12 per month"). A lease term that breaks these limits is unenforceable by the landlord. No grace period in Maryland Real Property Article, Title 8. See the source in the table above.
How much notice must a Maryland landlord give when rent is unpaid?
Before filing an eviction case for unpaid rent, the landlord must give the tenant written notice, on a form created by the Maryland Judiciary, that the landlord will file if the tenant does not cure within 10 days. The notice is given by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, by posting it on the door, or, if the tenant chose it, by email, text message or tenant portal; the complaint must state the date the notice was given. If the tenant pays the rent and late fees the court finds due, plus court costs, at the trial, the case is entered as satisfied. After a judgment for possession, the tenant may redeem the home by paying all past-due amounts the court determined plus court costs and fees at any time before the eviction is carried out, unless three judgments of possession for unpaid rent were entered against the tenant in the prior 12 months. See the source in the table above.
Does Maryland have rent control?
No limit set by Maryland Real Property Article, Title 8. A county or municipality that adopts a local law limiting rent increases for current tenants must report it to the General Assembly, and later report building-permit numbers for new multifamily rental housing. That reporting section does not authorize a local jurisdiction to adopt such a limit. See the source in the table above.
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