Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law: The Rules Every Rental Owner Should Know

What changed in Maryland landlord law in 2024 and 2026?

Two waves of change matter most. The Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024 reset deposits, lease paperwork, and eviction steps. Three more laws took effect on October 1, 2026.

The 2024 law is House Bill 693 (Chapter 124). The General Assembly’s bill page lists effective dates of October 1, 2024 and October 1, 2025. The bill created the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs inside the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). It also required a Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights in every residential lease and limited most security deposits to 1 month’s rent. The bill touched Real Property sections 8-119, 8-203, 8-208, and 8-401, among others.

DHCD reports early results. Its October 1, 2026 release says the state has seen a 14 percent drop in eviction filing rates and a 16 percent drop in households evicted since the Act took effect. Those are DHCD’s figures, not ours.

The table below covers the laws DHCD says took effect on October 1, 2026.

DHCD also published the 2027 Tenants’ Bill of Rights on October 1, 2026. It says the new version reflects these laws. See our Tenants’ Bill of Rights glossary entry for a short definition.

What are the main Maryland landlord rules at a glance?

Most day-to-day rules fit in one table. Each row links to the page that explains the rule in full.

Other Landlord Center pages cover the rest of the owner’s checklist: evaluating a rental, lead paint compliance, rental licenses, housing vouchers, wear and tear versus tenant damage, rental property insurance, and rental property taxes. The Landlord Center home lists every guide.

How much can I charge for a security deposit?

A Maryland landlord may charge up to the equivalent of 1 month’s rent per dwelling unit. This is the rule in Real Property 8-203(b)(1), and it applies no matter how many tenants sign the lease.

There is one narrow exception. A landlord may take up to 2 months’ rent only if the tenant qualified for utility assistance through the Department of Human Services, the lease requires the tenant to pay utilities directly to the landlord, and both sides agree in writing to the amount. A landlord who charges too much can owe the tenant up to three times the extra amount plus attorney’s fees. The tenant has until 2 years after the tenancy ends to sue.

The full rules on receipts, bank accounts, interest, the 45-day return, and itemized deductions are in our security deposit guide. A short security deposit definition is in the glossary.

How much notice do I need to raise rent?

Give written notice at least 90 days ahead for any tenancy longer than 1 month. The tenancy length sets the notice period: 60 days for tenancies of more than 1 week up to 1 month, and 7 or 21 days for tenancies of 1 week or less.

Notice goes by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing. A tenant may choose email, text, or a tenant portal instead, but the landlord must keep proof of transmission. A lease may not force a tenant to accept electronic notice. Counties and towns may add more notice or limit the amount of the increase. Read the rent increase guide before you send a notice.

What is the maximum late fee?

A lease may not set a late penalty above 5 percent of the unpaid rent for the rental period. For weekly rent, the cap is $3 per week or $12 per month. Section 8-208(d)(3) lists this as a prohibited lease term.

Our tenant fee disclosure, dated February 2, 2025, lists a late fee of 5 percent of unpaid rent, charged on the 6th after a 5-day grace period. See the collections guide for how to handle late rent, and the late fee definition.

What must be in my lease?

A written lease must include a receipt for the security deposit. Real Property 8-203.1 lists what the receipt must say, including the tenant’s right to a move-in inspection and the 45-day return deadline.

The lease must also come with the current Tenants’ Bill of Rights. DHCD says a landlord may not edit it, must use the latest version, and gets a new version each year by October 1. Real Property 8-208 bars certain lease terms outright. Examples include a late fee above 5 percent and a clause that forces a tenant to accept electronic delivery of a rent increase notice. Have a Maryland attorney review your lease form once a year.

What are the steps if rent is not paid?

Send a written notice of intent to file, wait 10 days, then file in District Court if the tenant has not paid. Section 8-401(c) requires the notice before a landlord may file a failure to pay rent complaint.

The Maryland Judiciary creates the notice form. The notice counts as given when it is mailed first-class with a certificate of mailing, affixed to the door, or, if the tenant elects, sent by email, text, or tenant portal with proof of transmission. The complaint must state the date the notice was given, and a court may dismiss it if the tenant shows sufficient cause. The People’s Law Library adds that a landlord must hold a current rental license if the county or town requires one. Our eviction guide walks through the full process. Learn the terms in our glossary: failure to pay rent and notice of intent to file.

Can I screen for criminal history?

Yes, but the rules changed on October 1, 2026 for providers who own or manage five or more units. Under the Fair Chance Housing Act, a provider generally must make a conditional offer before checking criminal history. A provider may not advertise that it will not consider applicants with criminal histories.

If a provider withdraws a conditional offer because of criminal history, it must give the reason and let the applicant ask for a reassessment. Penalties can reach $500 per violation. DHCD says the Act does not apply to owner-occupied units or to providers who run no criminal background checks. The law counts units a provider “manages,” so a management company may be covered even when each owner holds fewer than five units. Ask your attorney how it applies to you. Our tenant screening guide covers screening step by step, and the glossary explains the Fair Chance Housing Act and the Fair Housing Act.

Source of income is a protected class in Maryland. A housing voucher is a lawful source of income. See the housing voucher guide and the housing choice voucher definition.

What must I do before selling a rented house?

Before you list a rented home, send each qualifying tenant a written notice of the tenant’s right to make an offer. This is the right of first refusal in Real Property 8-119. It covers tenant-occupied residential rental property with three or fewer dwelling units. The statute defines “tenant” as a named lessee who has lived there at least 6 months.

The tenant has 30 days after the notice to deliver a written offer. The owner then has 5 days to accept an offer with the same or better material terms, or to send a counteroffer. Section 8-119(b) lists exemptions, such as transfers to family members and court-ordered sales. Read our guide to selling a tenant-occupied rental and the right of first refusal definition.

What local rules apply in each county?

State law is the floor. Local law can add notice rules, licenses, or rent limits. Section 8-209(c) says the notice rule does not override any local law that gives tenants more protection.

Treat the license rows as a starting point and confirm with the county or town office. The People’s Law Library table is the State Law Library’s list, not a county notice. Our rental license page and lead paint page keep these rules current. The glossary has short entries for rental license and lead paint registration.

Prince George’s County also limits rent increases for most units under its Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act. The county’s table lists a 5.7 percent maximum from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 for regulated units outside age-restricted senior housing. Exemptions apply, for example for a landlord with five or fewer rental units in the county who is a natural person. The rent increase guide explains this in detail.

Where do I check the current official text?

Start with these official pages, and check the date on each:

1. Maryland General Assembly, Real Property Article, Title 8: mgaleg.maryland.gov
2. DHCD Tenants’ Bill of Rights page
3. DHCD public notice on the October 1, 2026 laws
4. Maryland People’s Law Library for plain-language summaries
5. Your county or town housing office for licenses and local rent rules

Laws change each year. A page that says “as of October 2026” may be out of date by next fall. If your situation is not simple, talk to a Maryland attorney.

Next step

Rules change faster than most owners can track. If you want a management team that works with these rules every day, request a free assessment at /contact-us or call (301) 392-2172. You can also read how our property management services work.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the linked official source or talk to a Maryland attorney.