Home · Landlord-tenant rules · Maryland
Deposit, notice, and late-fee figures cited to the state statute.
| Rule | Rule text |
|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | Except as the section provides, a landlord may not impose a security deposit in excess of one month's rent per dwelling unit, regardless of the number of tenants. A landlord may impose a deposit of up to two months' rent if the tenant has qualified for utility assistance through the Department of Human Services, the lease requires the tenant to pay utilities directly to the landlord, and the tenant and landlord agree in writing to the amount. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Deposit return deadline | Within 45 days after the end of the tenancy, the landlord shall return the security deposit together with simple interest at the daily U.S. Treasury yield curve rate for 1 year, as of the first business day of each year, or 1.5% a year, whichever is greater, less any damages rightfully withheld. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Notice for a rent increase | A landlord shall notify a tenant in writing before increasing the rent. The notice is at least 90 days for a term of more than one month, at least 60 days for a term of more than one week but not more than one month, and, for a term of one week or less, at least 7 days if there is a written lease or at least 21 days if there is not. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-209. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Notice to end a tenancy | Except as paragraphs (3) and (4) of the subsection provide, written notice of intent to terminate is 60 days before expiration for a written lease of a stated term over one week or a month-to-month tenancy; 90 days for a year-to-year tenancy, including a tobacco farm tenancy and excluding other farm tenancies; 180 days for other farm year-to-year tenancies; and, for week-to-week, 7 days with a written lease or 21 days without one. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Late fee | A landlord may not use a lease that provides a penalty for late payment of rent above 5% of the unpaid rent due for the rental period, or, when rent is paid weekly, a late penalty of more than $3 a week or a total of more than $12 a month. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Eviction notice | Before filing a complaint to recover possession for failure to pay rent, the landlord shall give the tenant written notice of intent to file a claim in the District Court if the tenant does not cure within 10 days after the notice is provided. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401. As of 2026-10-09. |
Except as the section provides, a landlord may not impose a security deposit in excess of one month's rent per dwelling unit, regardless of the number of tenants. A landlord may impose a deposit of up to two months' rent if the tenant has qualified for utility assistance through the Department of Human Services, the lease requires the tenant to pay utilities directly to the landlord, and the tenant and landlord agree in writing to the amount.
Within 45 days after the end of the tenancy, the landlord shall return the security deposit together with simple interest at the daily U.S. Treasury yield curve rate for 1 year, as of the first business day of each year, or 1.5% a year, whichever is greater, less any damages rightfully withheld.
A landlord may not use a lease that provides a penalty for late payment of rent above 5% of the unpaid rent due for the rental period, or, when rent is paid weekly, a late penalty of more than $3 a week or a total of more than $12 a month.
Figures are from Maryland statutes, retrieved 2026-10-09. Primary sources: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-203, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-209, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-402, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-208, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-401.
Except as the section provides, a landlord may not impose a security deposit in excess of one month's rent per dwelling unit, regardless of the number of tenants. A landlord may impose a deposit of up to two months' rent if the tenant has qualified for utility assistance through the Department of Human Services, the lease requires the tenant to pay utilities directly to the landlord, and the tenant and landlord agree in writing to the amount. Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-203, as of 2026-10-09.
Within 45 days after the end of the tenancy, the landlord shall return the security deposit together with simple interest at the daily U.S. Treasury yield curve rate for 1 year, as of the first business day of each year, or 1.5% a year, whichever is greater, less any damages rightfully withheld. Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-203, as of 2026-10-09.
A landlord shall notify a tenant in writing before increasing the rent. The notice is at least 90 days for a term of more than one month, at least 60 days for a term of more than one week but not more than one month, and, for a term of one week or less, at least 7 days if there is a written lease or at least 21 days if there is not. Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-209, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-209, as of 2026-10-09.
Except as paragraphs (3) and (4) of the subsection provide, written notice of intent to terminate is 60 days before expiration for a written lease of a stated term over one week or a month-to-month tenancy; 90 days for a year-to-year tenancy, including a tobacco farm tenancy and excluding other farm tenancies; 180 days for other farm year-to-year tenancies; and, for week-to-week, 7 days with a written lease or 21 days without one. Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-402, as of 2026-10-09.
A landlord may not use a lease that provides a penalty for late payment of rent above 5% of the unpaid rent due for the rental period, or, when rent is paid weekly, a late penalty of more than $3 a week or a total of more than $12 a month. Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-208, as of 2026-10-09.
Before filing a complaint to recover possession for failure to pay rent, the landlord shall give the tenant written notice of intent to file a claim in the District Court if the tenant does not cure within 10 days after the notice is provided. Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-401, as of 2026-10-09.
Estimates for planning; not tax/legal advice.