Maryland Residential Landlord-Tenant Laws: Complete Guide
Manage overview of Maryland rental laws including security deposit limits (2 months), the 5% late fee cap, eviction notices, and required disclosures.
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Maryland residential tenancies are governed primarily by the Real Property Article of the Maryland Code. Maryland law provides strong protections for tenants regarding security deposits, late fees, and eviction procedures, while also allowing some local jurisdictions (like Montgomery County) to enact stricter rent stabilization rules.
Key Maryland Rental Laws at a Glance
Security Deposits
Maryland has strict requirements for security deposits. Landlords can charge a maximum of two months' rent for an unfurnished unit. The deposit must be kept in a separate, interest-bearing account in a Maryland financial institution.
If the deposit is greater than $50 and held for more than 6 months, it must accrue interest. Landlords have 45 days after the tenant moves out to return the deposit with an itemized statement of any deductions.
For more detail, see our Security Deposits deep dive.
Eviction Procedures Self-help evictions (like changing locks or shutting off utilities) are entirely illegal in Maryland. Landlords must go through the District Court.
- Unpaid Rent: Landlords must serve a 10-day written notice to pay or quit before filing an eviction lawsuit (Failure to Pay Rent action).
- Lease Violations: A 30-day notice is generally required for standard lease breaches, though severe breaches involving danger or criminal activity only require a 14-day notice.
For more detail, see our Eviction Process guide.
Rent Increases and Rent Control
Maryland does not have a statewide rent control law. However, localities like Montgomery County, Takoma Park, and Prince George's County have implemented manage rent stabilization measures.
Statewide, landlords must provide ample notice before raising rent: 90 days for leases of one year or more, and 60 days for month-to-month agreements.
For more detail, see our Rent Increases guide.
Late Fees Maryland strictly regulates late fees. A landlord cannot charge a late fee that exceeds 5% of the monthly rent. Furthermore, the state enforces a mandatory 15-day grace period-meaning a late fee cannot be legally assessed until the rent is 16 days past due.
For more detail, see our Late Fees guide.
Local Ordinances Matter In Maryland, local laws often take precedence if they offer more protection to the tenant. Landlords operating in Baltimore City, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, or Howard County must ensure their leases comply with both state statutes and local housing codes.
Explore more Maryland compliance topics:
How Landager Helps
Landager tracks lease terms, payments, and compliance document dates - making it easy to stay compliant with Maryland regulations.
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