Local landlord and tenant rules in Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland has local rules on good cause eviction (Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, § 8C-2), what a listing must show (Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, § 5-11), rental registration (Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, §§ 5-6, 5-7) and 1 more kind of rule, on top of Maryland law.
Local rules in Baltimore, Maryland
Good cause eviction
A Baltimore City landlord must offer the tenant a reasonable opportunity to renew at least 75 and no more than 100 days before a lease or periodic tenancy ends, subject to a reasonable, non-retaliatory change in rent or terms, unless there is good cause: a substantial breach of the lease (not unpaid rent) left uncured 45 days after written notice, the landlord or the landlord’s spouse, child, parent or grandparent moving in, taking the home off the rental market for good, permitted substantial repairs that cannot be done while it is occupied, or an owner-occupier who rents a single unit on the premises. A landlord relying on one of these must send a notice in the same 75-to-100-day window stating the facts.
Source: Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, § 8C-2. Checked on November 12, 2026.
What a listing must show
Any advertisement for a Baltimore City rental must show the rental license number of the home advertised, and may not show one that is expired, suspended or revoked; a newly built or renovated home that has no number yet must carry the City’s statement saying so. The license must also be given to a prospective tenant who asks for an application and to every tenant when a lease or renewal is offered, signed or renewed, and displayed in the building or the home.
Source: Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, § 5-11. Checked on November 12, 2026.
Rental registration
Every non-owner-occupied property in Baltimore City must be registered with the Department of Housing & Community Development each year by January 1, occupied or not, and a rental must also hold a rental dwelling license. A license is issued or renewed only after the property passes an inspection by a Maryland-licensed home inspector registered with the City, done no more than 90 days before the application (every unit, in a building of nine or fewer), with lead certification for each unit, all registration fees paid and no violation left unabated for more than 90 days.
Source: Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, §§ 5-6, 5-7. Checked on November 11, 2026.
Other landlord obligations
No one may rent or offer to rent a Baltimore City dwelling without a current rental dwelling license, or charge, accept, keep or try to collect rent unless they were licensed both when the home was offered and when it was occupied. A license expires two years after it is issued. Homes owned and operated by the Housing Authority of Baltimore City need none.
Source: Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, §§ 5-4, 5-9. Checked on November 12, 2026.
Maryland rules that apply in Baltimore
| Rule | Maryland |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Maryland? | Simple interest at the greater of 1. |
| How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in Maryland? | 90 days |
| How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Maryland? | 60 days |
| How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Maryland? | 10 days to pay |
| 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 |
Every Maryland rule Seayora publishes.
The homes these rules cover in Baltimore
52.5% of the occupied homes in Baltimore are rented, about 134,197 households, a share higher than across Maryland (32.4%).
The median gross rent is $1,331 a month, lower than across Maryland ($1,705); that is what households report paying, utilities included, not the asking rent for a vacant apartment.
53.7% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
81.6% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Baltimore | Baltimore city | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 52.5% (±0.8 points) | 52.5% | 32.4% |
| Median gross rent | $1,331 (±$15) | $1,331 | $1,705 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 53.7% (±1.7 points) | 53.7% | 51.5% |
| Median income of renter households | $43,788 (±$1,346) | $43,788 | $62,703 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 81.6% (±1.3 points) | 81.6% | 51.2% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 24.7% (±0.8 points) | 24.7% | 22.7% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.8% (±0.6 points) | 4.8% | 4.7% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 28.2% (±0.8 points) | 28.2% | 23.2% |
All housing figures for Baltimore: rent by bedrooms, home values, property taxes, commute.
Source: US Census Bureau, Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Baltimore. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Questions about Baltimore’s local rules
Does a landlord in Baltimore need a reason to evict or not renew?
A Baltimore City landlord must offer the tenant a reasonable opportunity to renew at least 75 and no more than 100 days before a lease or periodic tenancy ends, subject to a reasonable, non-retaliatory change in rent or terms, unless there is good cause: a substantial breach of the lease (not unpaid rent) left uncured 45 days after written notice, the landlord or the landlord’s spouse, child, parent or grandparent moving in, taking the home off the rental market for good, permitted substantial repairs that cannot be done while it is occupied, or an owner-occupier who rents a single unit on the premises. A landlord relying on one of these must send a notice in the same 75-to-100-day window stating the facts. (Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, § 8C-2)
What must a rental listing in Baltimore show?
Any advertisement for a Baltimore City rental must show the rental license number of the home advertised, and may not show one that is expired, suspended or revoked; a newly built or renovated home that has no number yet must carry the City’s statement saying so. The license must also be given to a prospective tenant who asks for an application and to every tenant when a lease or renewal is offered, signed or renewed, and displayed in the building or the home. (Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, § 5-11)
Do landlords have to register rentals in Baltimore?
Every non-owner-occupied property in Baltimore City must be registered with the Department of Housing & Community Development each year by January 1, occupied or not, and a rental must also hold a rental dwelling license. A license is issued or renewed only after the property passes an inspection by a Maryland-licensed home inspector registered with the City, done no more than 90 days before the application (every unit, in a building of nine or fewer), with lead certification for each unit, all registration fees paid and no violation left unabated for more than 90 days. (Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, §§ 5-6, 5-7)
What else does Baltimore require of landlords?
No one may rent or offer to rent a Baltimore City dwelling without a current rental dwelling license, or charge, accept, keep or try to collect rent unless they were licensed both when the home was offered and when it was occupied. A license expires two years after it is issued. Homes owned and operated by the Housing Authority of Baltimore City need none. (Baltimore City Code, Art. 13, §§ 5-4, 5-9)
This is a summary of the local rules Seayora has read from each place’s own code, not legal advice. Ordinances change and a rule may have exceptions; check the citation and the office named before acting.