How Much Notice Do You Need to Raise Rent in Maryland?

How much notice do I need to raise rent in Maryland?

You must give written notice before any rent increase. For a tenancy longer than 1 month, give it at least 90 days ahead. Real Property 8-209(b)(3) sets four notice periods based on the tenancy length.

The rule applies only to residential leases. It also does not apply when you have given written notice of intent to terminate the tenancy under Real Property 8-402(c)(2). DHCD’s Tenants’ Bill of Rights puts the same point this way: in most cases the landlord must give 90 days’ written notice, unless the notice comes with a notice of intent to end the tenancy.

Month-to-month tenancies need a closer look. A month-to-month tenancy has a term of 1 month. On the statute’s wording, that fits the 60-day tier, not the 90-day tier. This is our reading of the text, not a court ruling. Giving 90 days costs you little and avoids the question, and your county may require more. Ask a Maryland attorney if you manage month-to-month tenants.

The rent increase notice definition in our glossary gives a short summary.

How must I deliver the notice?

Mail it first-class with a certificate of mailing, unless the tenant chooses electronic delivery. Section 8-209(b)(2) allows email, text message, or an electronic tenant portal only if the tenant elects it. The electronic method must give you proof of transmission.

Three related rules protect the tenant’s choice:

1. You may not make acceptance of a lease application depend on the tenant electing electronic notice.
2. A lease cannot require the tenant to accept electronic delivery of a rent increase notice. Section 8-208(d)(9) lists that term as prohibited.
3. DHCD’s Tenants’ Bill of Rights says a landlord can use email, text, or a portal only if the tenant has agreed to receive notices electronically.

Keep a copy of the notice, the certificate of mailing, and the date you mailed it. If the tenant disputes the date, those records are your proof.

When can I raise the rent?

Only when the lease is renewed. The Maryland People’s Law Library says a landlord may only raise rent when a lease is renewed, and DHCD’s Tenants’ Bill of Rights says the same: “Your landlord may only increase your rent when your lease is renewed.” If you plan to raise the rent in the new lease, you must notify the tenant first.

In practice, count back from the renewal date. For a lease that ends on August 31 and renews on September 1, the 90 days run back from September 1. Mail the notice well before that date, because the full period must pass before the increase takes effect. The glossary defines lease renewal.

Does Maryland have rent control?

No statewide cap exists. DHCD’s Tenants’ Bill of Rights states that some local jurisdictions may limit how much rent can be increased, but there is no statewide law that limits rent increases when a lease is renewed. So a state-level rule sets only the notice. The amount is your decision, unless a local law sets a limit.

That statement can change if the legislature acts. Check the current Tenants’ Bill of Rights, which DHCD updates each year by October 1. The Maryland landlord-tenant law hub tracks other yearly changes.

Which counties and cities cap rent increases?

Section 8-209(c) says the notice rule does not affect any local law that requires more notice or gives tenants more protection. Local rules matter because they can add notice time or cap the increase. The table shows what we found on official pages.

Treat the “no cap found” rows as a starting point, not a legal opinion. We did not open a county page for each of those three counties. Call the county housing office or your town hall to confirm. Cities and towns inside a county can add rules too, so check the city if your home sits inside one. Our areas we serve page lists the places we manage.

How does Prince George’s County rent stabilization work?

The county limits increases on “regulated units,” which are most rental units that no exemption removes. The county’s Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) runs the program under the Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act of 2024.

The county’s table shows these limits for regulated units:

The county says the 5.7 percent figure for July 2025 through June 2026 was adopted before May 1, 2025, as the law requires. Rent increase limits track the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Several exemptions can take a unit out of the program. Among those the county lists:

• A unit whose construction was completed on or after January 1, 2000
• An accessory dwelling unit
• A building originally built with only two dwelling units, if the owner lives in one of them
• A unit owned by a landlord with five or fewer rental units in the county, if the landlord is a natural person or a living trust of a natural person, or the trust or estate of a decedent
• A condominium unit owned by one or more persons who live in the county

An exemption lasts only while its conditions exist. The county also says that every owner or landlord must file the PRSA Annual Reporting Form, even if the property is exempt, by September 30 each year, for the prior July 1 through June 30. Regulated units also need a rent roll. The law includes provisions for banked rent increases, limited capital improvement surcharges, and a fair return petition.

To learn whether a property is regulated, search the address in the county’s LookSee Property Explorer, or ask DPIE through the county’s 311 service. Read the county’s PRSA page for current forms. The same county also requires a rental license for single-family rentals. See our rental license page.

How does Montgomery County compare?

Montgomery County is outside our service area. It is a useful comparison because it shows how local limits work. Its Department of Housing and Community Affairs sets a yearly allowance equal to CPI-U plus 3 percent or a flat 6 percent, whichever is lower. For July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, that is 5.2 percent.

The county adds rules that Maryland state law does not have. A regulated unit’s rent may rise only once every 12 months, only at lease renewal or a new lease, and not during a multi-year lease. The county requires a written 90-day notice for regulated and exempt units, delivered by US mail or in person with a signed receipt.

How do I write and send the notice?

Follow these steps for each tenant:

1. Check the lease type and end date, and confirm the tenancy length that sets your notice period.
2. Check whether a county or city rule caps the increase or adds notice time. For Prince George’s County, confirm whether the unit is regulated.
3. Pick the new rent and the date it starts. The start date should match a lease renewal.
4. Write the notice with the current rent, the new rent, and the effective date.
5. Mail it first-class with a certificate of mailing. Use email, text, or the tenant portal only if the tenant chose that method in writing.
6. Keep proof: a copy of the notice, the certificate of mailing, and the transmission record for any electronic delivery.
7. Put the new rent in the renewal lease, and attach the current Tenants’ Bill of Rights if you sign a new lease.

Do not set a new rent in a vacuum. Compare it with the rents of similar homes near yours, so you do not lose a good tenant over a few dollars. Our rental property evaluations page explains how market rent is judged, and the rent check page is a place to start. The market rent definition covers the basics.

What are common rent increase mistakes?

Most errors come from timing or delivery. Avoid these:

1. Counting days wrong. The full notice period must pass before the new rent starts.
2. Using the wrong tier. A 12-month lease needs 90 days. A month-to-month tenancy is a closer question. Use 90 days if you are unsure.
3. Emailing without the tenant’s choice. Electronic notice is valid only if the tenant elected it.
4. Raising rent mid-lease. Raise rent only at renewal.
5. Missing a local cap. A unit in Prince George’s County may be regulated.
6. Skipping the record. Without a certificate of mailing or proof of transmission, you cannot prove the date.

Next step

Rent increases work best when they follow a plan: market data, correct notice, and good records. To have us handle renewals and rent changes for your home, request a free assessment at /contact-us or call (301) 392-2172. You can also read about our property management services.

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