Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Maryland?
No. Only a sheriff or constable executing a warrant of restitution may evict in Maryland. In Maryland a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-401, 8-402.1; Md. Rule 3-711.
| What | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Changing the locks, cutting a utility or removing belongings | Unlawful |
| Who may remove a tenant | Only a court officer acting on a court order |
Notes
Maryland requires a written ten-day notice of intent to file before a failure-to-pay-rent action, since 2021. Payment of the rent and costs at any time before eviction reinstates the tenancy unless the tenant is a "tenant holding over" or has three judgments in twelve months.
Source
Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-401, 8-402.1; Md. Rule 3-711 — last checked 2026-09-16.
This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.
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The same question in other states
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