Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law 2026: The Plain-English Guide
Maryland has one of the most landlord-favorable eviction quirks in the country: for nonpayment of rent, you can file in court without giving any prior notice. But the deposit rules are strict, and Baltimore City adds its own layer. Here's the plain-English version.
Security deposits
- Cap: 2 months' rent — no more.
- Return within 45 days of move-out, with a written itemized list of deductions.
- Separate account: deposits must be held in a separate account; you must give the tenant a written receipt for the deposit.
- Move-in inspection: you must offer a move-in inspection with a written checklist. Skip it and you can lose the right to withhold for damages.
- Penalty: bad-faith withholding = up to 3x the deposit.
Use our Security Deposit Deadline Finder and deductions guide.
Rent rules
- No rent control statewide.
- Late fees must be in the lease and reasonable.
- Raising rent: 30 days' notice for month-to-month tenancies (60 days in Baltimore City for many tenancies). See how to raise rent legally.
Eviction in Maryland
- Nonpayment: Maryland is distinctive — a "failure to pay rent" action can be filed in District Court as soon as rent is late, with no statutory pre-filing notice required. (Your lease may require notice, and judges appreciate it, but the statute doesn't.)
- Lease violations: 30-day notice to cure or quit (14 days for behavior posing a clear and present danger).
- Month-to-month termination: 30 days' written notice (60 days in Baltimore City in many cases).
- District Court moves fast — hearings often within 2–3 weeks. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 4–6 weeks.
Self-help is illegal. Full process: how to evict a tenant.
Repairs and habitability
- Implied warranty of habitability applies statewide.
- Rent escrow: after written notice and a reasonable time, tenants can file a rent escrow action in District Court — paying rent to the court until repairs are made. Baltimore City has an especially active rent escrow docket.
- Retaliation for complaints is prohibited.
Entry rights
Maryland has no state statute on entry notice. Standard practice: 24 hours' notice in the lease, reasonable times, emergencies excepted.
Baltimore City: the extra layer
Baltimore requires rental licenses, lead-paint compliance (Maryland's lead laws are among the strictest nationally), and longer notice periods for many terminations. Baltimore landlords should treat city compliance as a separate track.
The bottom line
Maryland's no-notice rent filing is a powerful tool — but don't let it make you sloppy. The deposit rules (2-month cap, 45-day return, receipt, inspection checklist) are where Maryland landlords actually get penalized. Get the deposit right and the courts will handle the rest quickly.
This is general information, not legal advice. Baltimore City has significant local requirements — consult a Maryland landlord-tenant attorney for specific situations.