Maryland landlord and tenant rules

Seayora publishes 14 Maryland rules, covering security deposits, notice periods, late fees, applications, evictions, fair housing, tenant protections, contractor sales tax. Every one is composed from the statute it cites and links to that statute on the state’s own code site.

Maryland at a glance

RuleMaryland
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Maryland?Simple interest at the greater of 1.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Maryland?45 days
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Maryland?1 month of rent
How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Maryland?10 days
How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in Maryland?60 days
How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Maryland?60 days
How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in Maryland?5% of the rent due for the period that was paid late
How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Maryland?Above $25, everything but actual costs is refunded
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Maryland?Only a sheriff or constable executing a warrant of restitution may evict in Maryland.
How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Maryland?A failure-to-pay-rent trial is held about five days after filing.
What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in Maryland?Serve a 10-day notice of intent to file
Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Maryland?Protected: a landlord may not refuse one
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Maryland?Protected for 6 months
Do contractors charge sales tax in Maryland?Consumer of materials

Security deposits in Maryland

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland requires a landlord to pay the tenant interest on a security deposit. Simple interest at the greater of 1.5 % a year or the daily U.S. Treasury yield curve rate for 1 year as of the first business day of the year, accruing monthly, owed once the deposit has been held 6 months, on deposits of $50 or more. The deposit itself must be returned within 45 days of the end of the tenancy. This is Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Maryland?

In Maryland, a landlord has 45 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. Maryland also requires interest to be paid on the deposit: Simple interest at the greater of 1.5 % a year or the daily U.S. Treasury yield curve rate for 1 year as of the first business day of the year, accruing monthly, owed once the deposit has been held 6 months, on deposits of $50 or more. This is Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Maryland?

In Maryland, a security deposit is capped at 1 month of rent. One month's rent (Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024, leases from 1 October 2024); up to two months only for a tenant on Department of Human Services utility assistance who pays utilities to the landlord, agreed in writing. This is Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Notice periods in Maryland

How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Maryland?

In Maryland, a landlord must give 10 days written notice before starting a nonpayment case. This is Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-208.1, 8-401.

Rent increases and non-renewals on month-to-month tenancies need 60 days (90 in Montgomery County). No statute sets an entry-notice period. Late rent: 10-day notice before filing (2021).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in Maryland?

In Maryland, a landlord must give 60 days written notice before raising the rent. This is Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-208.1, 8-401.

Rent increases and non-renewals on month-to-month tenancies need 60 days (90 in Montgomery County). No statute sets an entry-notice period. Late rent: 10-day notice before filing (2021).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Maryland?

In Maryland, a landlord must give 60 days written notice to end a tenancy or decline to renew it. This is Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-208.1, 8-401.

Rent increases and non-renewals on month-to-month tenancies need 60 days (90 in Montgomery County). No statute sets an entry-notice period. Late rent: 10-day notice before filing (2021).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Late fees in Maryland

How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in Maryland?

In Maryland, a late fee may not exceed 5% of the rent due for the period that was paid late. This is Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Applications in Maryland

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Maryland?

In Maryland, where a landlord takes more than $25 in fees from a prospective tenant (other than a security deposit), it may keep only what was actually spent on a credit check or other costs of the application and must return the rest within 15 days, or owe twice the fees in damages. This is Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-213.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Evictions in Maryland

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.

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.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Maryland?

In Maryland, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-401, 8-402.1; Md. Rule 3-711. A failure-to-pay-rent trial is held about five days after filing. The tenant appears; there is no written answer.

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.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in Maryland?

In Maryland, an eviction for unpaid rent runs through 5 steps, each set by the statute or court rule beside it: (1) Serve a 10-day notice of intent to file — Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401(c); (2) File a failure-to-pay-rent complaint — Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401; (3) Trial about five days after filing — Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401(b); (4) The tenant’s right of redemption — Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401(e); (5) Warrant of restitution — Md. Rule 3-711. 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. The procedure as a whole is set by Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-401, 8-402.1; Md. Rule 3-711.

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.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Fair housing in Maryland

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Maryland?

No, not in most cases. In Maryland, a person may not refuse to rent a dwelling, or set different terms, because of source of income, which the law defines to include rental assistance and vouchers issued under the United States Housing Act of 1937. This is Md. Code, State Gov’t §§ 20-701, 20-705.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Tenant protections in Maryland

Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Maryland?

No. In Maryland, a landlord may not bring or threaten an eviction, arbitrarily raise the rent or cut services, or end a periodic tenancy because a tenant complained about a substantial health or safety threat, joined a tenants’ organization, or sued or testified against the landlord, but an action more than six months after the tenant’s protected act cannot be found retaliatory. Separately, the federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to threaten or interfere with anyone for exercising fair housing rights. This is Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208.1.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Contractor sales tax in Maryland

Do contractors charge sales tax in Maryland?

In Maryland a contractor is treated as the CONSUMER of the materials they build into real property. That means the contractor pays sales tax when they buy the materials, and does not add sales tax to the customer's invoice for that work — the tax is already inside the price. Source: Md. Code Tax-Gen. §11-101; Md. Code Regs. 03.06.01.19 (a contractor is the consumer of materials used to improve real property).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Sources

  • Md. Code Tax-Gen. §11-101; Md. Code Regs. 03.06.01.19 (a contractor is the consumer of materials used to improve real property).
  • Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203
  • Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3)
  • Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208.1
  • Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-213
  • Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-208.1, 8-401
  • Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-401, 8-402.1; Md. Rule 3-711
  • Md. Code, State Gov’t §§ 20-701, 20-705

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

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.

This is a summary of a state’s published guidance, not tax or legal advice. Rates and rules change, local jurisdictions add their own, and the treatment of a specific job depends on the contract and the work. Check the citation and speak to a CPA or a state tax adviser before relying on it.

How Seayora uses these rules

Security deposits. Seayora computes the deadline this rule sets from the tenancy’s own dates, shows it on the deposit statement, and reminds the landlord before it falls due — so the answer above is not reference material sitting beside the product, it is the rule the product enforces.

Notice periods. Seayora computes the notice this rule requires from the tenancy’s own dates — for a renewal offer, a rent increase or a served notice — and will not serve one that is short unless the owner records a reason. The answer above is the rule the product enforces.

Late fees. Seayora charges only the late fee written into the lease, after the grace period the lease sets, and adds no late fee of its own. This page states the statutory ceiling and waiting period so the terms of a lease can be checked against them before it is signed.

Applications. This page states what the state allows a landlord to charge somebody applying to rent, so a fee can be checked against it before it is advertised or collected.

Evictions. 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.

Fair housing. This page states whether the state protects renters who pay with a housing voucher, so a listing and its screening rules can be checked against it before they are published. Seayora’s rental search assistant never filters homes by how a renter will pay the rent.

Tenant protections. When an owner prepares an eviction in Seayora, it lists any repair request opened on the unit in the last 180 days that is still open, not to stop the case but because the tenant will raise retaliation and the owner should have an answer. Every repair request keeps the date it was filed.

Contractor sales tax. Seayora resolves this rule on every invoice a contractor raises — per line, from the job site’s own address — and prints the rate, the jurisdiction and this citation on the document itself, so the estimate a customer accepts is the invoice they are billed. Where the rule is more nuanced than a single answer, Seayora refuses to guess a total rather than quoting a confident wrong one.

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