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Maryland · MD

Maryland Landlord-Tenant Laws 2026

Security deposit limits, eviction notice requirements, rent increase rules, and every compliance deadline for Maryland landlords. 157 cities covered.

Based on Maryland state statutes. Updated August 2026.

Maryland Landlord Law Summary

In Maryland, landlords must return security deposits within 45 days, provide 3-day eviction notice for nonpayment, and do not cap rent increases. No just cause eviction requirement.

Maryland Landlord Rules at a Glance

Key compliance requirements every Maryland landlord must follow.

Rule Requirement
Security Deposit Cap 2 months’ rent
Deposit Return Deadline 45 days
Eviction Notice (Nonpayment) Immediate filing permitted (varies by county; Baltimore City requires 10-day notice)
Rent Cap No statewide cap (some counties have caps: Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Takoma Park)
Entry Notice 24 hours notice (varies by county)
Late Fee Cap 5% of monthly rent
Grace Period No statutory requirement (varies by county)
Just Cause Eviction Not required
Deposit Interest Required

What Happens If You Violate Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law

Security deposit violation: Tenant may recover up to 3x the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney fees.

  • Late deposit return: Miss the 45-day deadline and tenants can sue for up to 3x the withheld amount, plus interest.
  • Improper eviction notice: Wrong notice period or procedure = case dismissed. You restart from zero and owe additional court costs.
  • Illegal entry: Entering without 24-hour notice = harassment claim. Tenants can terminate the lease and sue for damages.
  • Fair housing violation: First offense: $16,000+ federal fine. Repeat: $65,000+. Plus actual damages, attorney fees, and potential criminal penalties.

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Deposit deadlines, eviction notice periods, rent cap calculations — monitored automatically across all 157 Maryland cities.

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Maryland Landlord-Tenant Statutes

The laws that govern residential rentals in Maryland.

Maryland Real Property Code — Landlord-Tenant

Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-101 et seq.

Governs residential tenancies including security deposits, lead paint requirements, eviction procedures, and tenant rights.

Maryland Landlord Law Topics

Explore detailed rules by topic for any Maryland city.

Security Deposit Laws

View Maryland rules by city →

Eviction Process & Notice Requirements

View Maryland rules by city →

Rent Increase Laws

View Maryland rules by city →

Landlord Entry & Access Rules

View Maryland rules by city →

Maintenance & Habitability Standards

View Maryland rules by city →

Late Fee Limits

View Maryland rules by city →

Lease Termination & Renewal

View Maryland rules by city →

Fair Housing Protections

View Maryland rules by city →

Tenant Screening Rules

View Maryland rules by city →

Required Landlord Disclosures

View Maryland rules by city →

Rent Control

View Maryland rules by city →

Property Registration Requirements

View Maryland rules by city →

Top 50 Maryland Cities — Landlord Law Coverage

The largest Maryland cities by population, with median rent and deposit cap data. Click any city for detailed landlord-tenant law coverage.

City Population Median 2BR Rent Max Deposit
Baltimore 565,239 $1,857/mo $3,714
Frederick 85,793 $2,246/mo $4,492
Gaithersburg 69,563 $2,246/mo $4,492
Rockville 67,297 $2,246/mo $4,492
Bowie 57,254 $1,657/mo $3,314
Hagerstown 43,553 $1,261/mo $2,522
Annapolis 40,552 $1,857/mo $3,714
College Park 34,187 $1,657/mo $3,314
Salisbury 33,159 $1,378/mo $2,756
Laurel 29,400 $1,657/mo $3,314
Greenbelt 24,360 $1,657/mo $3,314
Hyattsville 20,662 $1,657/mo $3,314
Westminster 20,536 $1,857/mo $3,714
Cumberland 18,751 $973/mo $1,946
Aberdeen 18,006 $1,857/mo $3,714
Takoma Park 17,464 $2,246/mo $4,492
Easton 17,225 $1,409/mo $2,818
Elkton 15,968 $1,810/mo $3,620
Havre de Grace 15,032 $1,857/mo $3,714
New Carrollton 13,405 $1,657/mo $3,314
Cambridge 13,176 $1,144/mo $2,288
La Plata 10,878 $2,246/mo $4,492
Bel Air 10,490 $1,857/mo $3,714
Mount Airy 9,889 $2,246/mo $4,492
Bladensburg 9,446 $1,657/mo $3,314
Brunswick 8,309 $2,246/mo $4,492
Mount Rainier 8,119 $1,657/mo $3,314
Taneytown 7,400 $1,857/mo $3,714
Riverdale Park 7,164 $1,657/mo $3,314
Frostburg 6,963 $973/mo $1,946
Ocean City 6,915 $1,194/mo $2,388
Thurmont 6,680 $2,246/mo $4,492
Walkersville 6,610 $2,246/mo $4,492
Chesapeake Beach 6,492 $2,083/mo $4,166
Hampstead 6,395 $1,857/mo $3,714
Glenarden 6,270 $1,657/mo $3,314
Cheverly 6,015 $1,657/mo $3,314
Fruitland 5,869 $1,378/mo $2,756
District Heights 5,811 $1,657/mo $3,314
Poolesville 5,720 $2,246/mo $4,492
Chestertown 5,590 $1,657/mo $3,314
Manchester 5,527 $1,857/mo $3,714
Berlin 5,346 $1,194/mo $2,388
Middletown 5,307 $2,246/mo $4,492
Denton 4,979 $1,314/mo $2,628
Leonardtown 4,974 $1,657/mo $3,314
Centreville 4,745 $1,657/mo $3,314
Delmar 4,569 $1,378/mo $2,756
Perryville 4,480 $1,810/mo $3,620
Seat Pleasant 4,456 $1,657/mo $3,314

All 157 Maryland Cities

Click any city to view its specific landlord-tenant laws, deadlines, and free calculators.

Baltimore 565,239 Frederick 85,793 Gaithersburg 69,563 Rockville 67,297 Bowie 57,254 Hagerstown 43,553 Annapolis 40,552 College Park 34,187 Salisbury 33,159 Laurel 29,400 Greenbelt 24,360 Hyattsville 20,662 Westminster 20,536 Cumberland 18,751 Aberdeen 18,006 Takoma Park 17,464 Easton 17,225 Elkton 15,968 Havre de Grace 15,032 New Carrollton 13,405 Cambridge 13,176 La Plata 10,878 Bel Air 10,490 Mount Airy 9,889 Bladensburg 9,446 Brunswick 8,309 Mount Rainier 8,119 Taneytown 7,400 Riverdale Park 7,164 Frostburg 6,963 Ocean City 6,915 Thurmont 6,680 Walkersville 6,610 Chesapeake Beach 6,492 Hampstead 6,395 Glenarden 6,270 Cheverly 6,015 Fruitland 5,869 District Heights 5,811 Poolesville 5,720 Chestertown 5,590 Manchester 5,527 Berlin 5,346 Middletown 5,307 Denton 4,979 Leonardtown 4,974 Centreville 4,745 Delmar 4,569 Perryville 4,480 Seat Pleasant 4,456 Sykesville 4,412 Pocomoke City 4,401 Indian Head 4,170 North East 4,163 Capitol Heights 3,952 Boonsboro 3,823 Brentwood 3,725 Princess Anne 3,534 Berwyn Heights 3,265 Smithsburg 3,149 Emmitsburg 2,959 Chevy Chase 2,866 Federalsburg 2,804 Rising Sun 2,773 Forest Heights 2,593 Crisfield 2,486 University Park 2,379 Snow Hill 2,273 North Beach 2,177 Mountain Lake Park 2,117 Kensington 2,108 Williamsport 2,086 Hurlock 2,085 Chevy Chase Village 2,027 Myersville 1,943 Greensboro 1,925 Oakland 1,820 Westernport 1,777 Landover Hills 1,764 New Market 1,641 Pittsville 1,637 Ridgely 1,611 Edmonston 1,573 Hancock 1,557 Colmar Manor 1,555 Charlestown 1,520 Fairmount Heights 1,489 New Windsor 1,470 Trappe 1,345 Cottage City 1,298 Keedysville 1,217 Morningside 1,212 Rock Hall 1,189 Somerset 1,177 Woodsboro 1,174 Hebron 1,105 St. Michaels 1,061 Chevy Chase View 996 Lonaconing 984 Garrett Park 982 Willards 977 Grantsville 958 Union Bridge 953 Martin's Additions 931 Funkstown 852 Church Hill 819 Chevy Chase Section Three 791 Chesapeake City 746 Queenstown 739 Upper Marlboro 703 Sharptown 698 Cecilton 687 North Chevy Chase 676 Preston 676 Chevy Chase Section Five 663 Port Deposit 625 Oxford 600 North Brentwood 575 Laytonsville 572 Sharpsburg 564 Millington 544 Galena 531 Sudlersville 514 Washington Grove 500 Loch Lynn Heights 485 Midland 478 Secretary 469 Barton 458 Friendsville 428 East New Market 400 Clear Spring 370 Mardela Springs 354 Accident 330 Deer Park 302 Kitzmiller 293 Rosemont 292 Betterton 283 Glen Echo 276 Vienna 272 Goldsboro 210 Queen Anne 190 Barclay 181 Marydel 173 Brookeville 162 Henderson 160 Burkittsville 149 Barnesville 144 Hillsboro 133 Templeville 118 Galestown 114 Highland Beach 106 Church Creek 104 Luke 82 Eagle Harbor 64 Brookview 47 Eldorado 46 Port Tobacco Village 25

Free Maryland Landlord Calculators

Calculate compliance limits for any Maryland city. No signup required.

Rent Increase Calculator

Calculate maximum allowable rent increase in Baltimore →

Security Deposit Calculator

Calculate deposit limits and return deadlines in Baltimore →

Eviction Timeline Calculator

Calculate eviction notice periods and court timelines in Baltimore →

Late Fee Calculator

Calculate maximum legal late fees in Baltimore →

Download Free Maryland Landlord Compliance Checklist

Deposit deadlines, notice requirements, required disclosures — everything in one page.

Get Free Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions — Maryland Landlord Laws

Not statewide. However, some counties and municipalities have local rent stabilization measures, including Montgomery County, Takoma Park, and Prince George’s County.
Yes. Maryland requires landlords to hold security deposits in interest-bearing accounts and pay the tenant annual interest. Deposits are capped at 2 months’ rent.
Maryland caps late fees at 5% of monthly rent. This applies statewide, though local jurisdictions may have additional requirements.

Compliance tracking for your Maryland properties

LeaseBase monitors Maryland landlord-tenant law changes, tracks deadlines, and alerts you before penalties apply — across every city in your portfolio.

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How we researched this page: This guide covers all Maryland landlord-tenant statutes, verified against official government sources. Rent data comes from HUD Fair Market Rents (FY2026). Last updated: August 2026.
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Reviewed by Rachid Abadli

Founder & CEO, LeaseBase · Sacramento landlord · Self-managing since 2019

LeaseBase is a property management platform — not a law firm. Consult an attorney for legal advice specific to your situation.

Self-manage your rentals with confidence.
Keep the profit. Lose the stress.

info@leasebase.ai (916) 347-5793

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