Maryland Rent Control 2026: Montgomery County’s New Stabilization Cap, Baltimore City’s No-Control Zone, and Takoma Park’s 45-Year Record

1. Maryland’s Home Rule Framework — No Statewide Preemption

Maryland stands in a distinct position among Mid-Atlantic states when it comes to rent control: it has neither enacted statewide rent control (like DC) nor passed a statewide preemption statute prohibiting local rent control (like many Sun Belt and Midwest states). Instead, Maryland’s Constitution vests broad authority in charter counties and municipalities to regulate local affairs — including residential tenancies.

The Charter Home Rule Amendment (Art. XI-A, Md. Const.), adopted in 1915 and expanded over subsequent decades, empowers any county to adopt a charter form of government and exercise broad local powers. Baltimore City has operated under home rule since before statehood (the City’s charter predates Maryland’s Constitution). Under this framework, Maryland’s 23 counties and incorporated cities may enact ordinances on local matters, subject to the limitation that such ordinances must not be inconsistent with state law.

The Maryland General Assembly has never passed legislation expressly preempting local rent control. This is in stark contrast to:

• Texas — LGC §214.902 (1981): explicit statewide prohibition on rent control, enacted 1981; no Texas city may enact, maintain, or enforce rent control.
• Wisconsin — Wis. Stat. §66.1015 (1981): the oldest named Midwest rent-control preemption statute; enacted in 1981, the same year as Texas.
• Michigan — MCL §123.409 (1988): explicit preemption since 1988; no Michigan city may regulate rent.
• Illinois — 765 ILCS 720 (1997): preempts all home rule rent control in Illinois, despite Chicago’s robust RLTO (Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance) governing landlord-tenant relations.
• Tennessee — T.C.A. §66-35-102 (2014): preempts Nashville, Memphis, and all Tennessee municipalities from enacting rent control.
• Missouri — RSMo §441.043 (2021): emergency preemption enacted 2021, ending any theoretical Kansas City or St. Louis rent control.
• Kansas — K.S.A. §12-16,130 (2021): newest named preemption statute in the Midwest.

Maryland’s silence on statewide preemption has produced an uneven patchwork: the vast majority of Maryland jurisdictions have chosen not to enact rent control, while two — Takoma Park and Montgomery County — have exercised the authority that Maryland’s Constitution leaves available to them.

For Maryland landlords, the practical implication is geographic: a property in Germantown (unincorporated Montgomery County) is now subject to rent stabilization caps; a property in Rockville (within Montgomery County but an independent city) is governed by Montgomery County’s law insofar as Rockville chooses not to preempt the County law (the legal relationship between Montgomery County’s ordinance and incorporated cities within the County is a nuanced home-rule question). A property in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, or Howard County is subject to no rent control at all.

2. Maryland Real Property Article: The Statewide Landlord-Tenant Framework

Maryland’s statewide residential landlord-tenant law is codified in the Maryland Code, Real Property Article (Md. Code, Real Prop.), Title 8 (Landlord and Tenant). Unlike approximately 21 states that have adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), Maryland has its own distinct statutory framework that predates the URLTA and was not substantially revised to align with it.

Key provisions of Maryland’s Real Property Article for residential tenancies:

Maryland does not have a statewide implied warranty of habitability statute as robust as URLTA states; however, courts have recognized a common-law implied covenant of quiet enjoyment, and the Baltimore City and Montgomery County housing codes impose detailed habitability requirements that effectively function as implied warranty obligations. The Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act (CPA) also applies to landlord-tenant relations where a landlord’s misrepresentations about unit conditions meet the CPA’s threshold.

3. Security Deposits: 2-Month Cap, 45-Day Return, Treble Damages (3×)

Maryland’s security deposit rules are among the most substantive in the Mid-Atlantic, combining a 2-month statutory cap, a mandatory interest-bearing account requirement, a 45-day return window, and one of the nation’s steepest wrongful-withholding penalties.

The 2-Month Cap (§8-203)

Maryland landlords may collect no more than 2 months’ rent as a combined security deposit for any residential tenancy, regardless of lease term. The cap applies to the total of all deposits collected at lease inception — so a landlord who collects a security deposit plus a separate pet deposit must ensure the combined amount does not exceed 2 months’ rent (§8-211(f)).

The 2-month cap applies uniformly across Maryland statewide, including in rent-stabilized jurisdictions (Takoma Park and Montgomery County). A landlord in Bethesda charging $2,800/month for a covered unit may collect no more than $5,600 in total deposits.

Interest-Bearing Account Requirement (§8-203)

Maryland is one of the relatively few states that requires landlords to hold deposits in interest-bearing accounts. Specifically, a Maryland landlord holding a security deposit exceeding $50 must deposit the funds in a federally insured interest-bearing savings account, certificate of deposit, or other interest-bearing instrument at a financial institution within 30 days of receipt. The interest rate need not exceed the standard passbook savings rate.

The interest earned accrues to the benefit of the tenant and must be included in the deposit return calculation at tenancy end. If the landlord withholds a portion of the deposit, the landlord must also account for and provide the tenant’s proportionate share of interest. Landlords who commingle security deposits with operating accounts or fail to hold them in interest-bearing accounts are exposed to additional civil liability beyond the standard wrongful-withholding penalties.

The 45-Day Return Window (§8-208)

Maryland landlords must return the security deposit (with accrued interest) or deliver a written itemized statement of deductions within 45 days of the end of the tenancy. The 45-day clock begins on the day the tenancy ends — typically the date the tenant returns keys and vacates.

Maryland’s 45-day return period ties Indiana as the longest mandatory return deadline in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest catalog. Compare:

Treble Damages (3×) for Wrongful Withholding (§8-211)

Maryland Real Property §8-211(b) provides that a landlord who wrongfully withholds any portion of a security deposit is liable to the tenant for up to 3 times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney’s fees. This treble damages provision makes Maryland one of the most tenant-protective states in the country on deposit liability:

• Louisiana: 2× wrongfully withheld (La. Rev. Stat. §9:3251(B))
• Oklahoma: 2× wrongfully withheld (Okla. Stat. tit. 41 §123)
• Virginia: 2× wrongfully withheld (Va. Code §55.1-1234)
• DC: 3× wrongfully withheld (comparable to Maryland)
• Georgia: 3× wrongfully withheld (O.C.G.A. §44-7-37)
• Iowa: Attorney’s fees only, no multiplier

The combination of treble damages plus attorney’s fees makes Maryland deposit disputes high-stakes for landlords. A landlord who wrongfully withholds $1,500 from a $2,800 deposit faces potential exposure of $4,500 (3×) plus attorney’s fees — a total cost that can easily exceed $8,000–$10,000 in a contested case including tenant attorney time.

Itemized Statement Requirements

The landlord must provide an itemized written statement listing each deduction with its specific dollar amount. A general “cleaning fee” or “repairs” entry without itemization does not satisfy §8-208. Failure to provide an adequately itemized statement within the 45-day window forfeits the landlord’s right to retain any portion of the deposit — even for legitimate damages — and triggers the treble damages and attorney’s fees exposure on the entire withheld amount.

4. Eviction: Pre-Filing Notice Requirement and District Court Process

Maryland’s eviction process for non-payment of rent is governed by Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-401 and is administered exclusively through the District Court of Maryland, a statewide unified court system with locations in each of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions (23 counties + Baltimore City).

10-Day Pre-Filing Notice (§8-401)

Prior to 2021, Maryland landlords could file a Failure to Pay Rent (FTPR) action in the District Court as soon as rent became delinquent — with no mandatory pre-filing notice period. Legislation enacted in 2021 (codified in §8-401) imposed a requirement that landlords provide tenants with a written notice of at least 10 days before filing an FTPR complaint with the District Court.

This 10-day notice serves two functions: (1) it gives the tenant an opportunity to pay the overdue rent and avoid court proceedings; and (2) it gives the tenant time to apply for emergency rental assistance programs before a court judgment is entered on their record. The notice must be in writing and must inform the tenant that court action for possession will commence if rent is not paid within 10 days.

Compare Maryland’s 10-day pre-filing notice to other states in the region:

District Court Eviction Procedure

After the 10-day pre-filing period expires without payment, the landlord may file an FTPR complaint at the appropriate District Court location:

• Baltimore City: District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City — 505 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. (Mitchell Courthouse; handles FTPR cases for all Baltimore City rental units)
• Montgomery County: District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County — 27 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD 20850. (Handles FTPR cases for all unincorporated and incorporated Montgomery County rental units)
• Prince George’s County: District Court of Maryland for Prince George’s County — 14735 Main St., Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.
• Baltimore County: District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County — 120 E. Chesapeake Ave., Towson, MD 21286.

Filing fee for FTPR: approximately $15–$20 (varies by jurisdiction; District Court sets fees). The court typically schedules a hearing within 5–10 calendar days of filing. If the judge rules for the landlord, a Judgment for Possession is entered. A Warrant of Restitution may then be issued, authorizing the sheriff to physically remove the tenant typically with 10–14 calendar days’ notice. Total timeline from filing to physical eviction: approximately 3–6 weeks in most Maryland jurisdictions.

Self-help evictions are illegal in Maryland. A landlord who changes locks, removes a tenant’s belongings, shuts off utilities, or otherwise attempts to remove a tenant without a court order and sheriff’s execution is subject to civil damages and may face criminal liability. All evictions in Maryland must proceed through the District Court process.

5. Takoma Park Rent Stabilization — Maryland’s Oldest (Since 1981, 45 Consecutive Years)

The City of Takoma Park, Maryland — an independent incorporated city of approximately 17,000–18,000 residents located within Montgomery County, abutting the DC border in Prince George’s County — has operated a residential rent stabilization ordinance continuously since 1981. As of 2026, Takoma Park’s program is 45 years old, making it Maryland’s oldest rent control jurisdiction and one of the oldest continuously operating rent stabilization programs in the eastern United States.

Historical Context

Takoma Park enacted its rent stabilization ordinance in 1981, a year of significant political activity around residential rent control nationally: both Texas (LGC §214.902) and Wisconsin (Wis. Stat. §66.1015) enacted statewide preemption statutes that same year, effectively foreclosing rent control in those states. Takoma Park’s 1981 ordinance predates the DC Rental Housing Act of 1985 by four years, making Takoma Park’s program older than DC’s. The program has survived multiple legal challenges, three decades of local political debates, and two major national recessions.

Takoma Park has historically been one of the most politically progressive small cities in Maryland — it declared itself a nuclear-free zone in 1983, a Sanctuary City in 1985, and has extended voting rights to non-citizen residents in local elections. Its rent stabilization program reflects the same philosophy: a strong preference for direct tenant protections over market-based housing supply solutions.

Program Structure

Takoma Park’s rent stabilization is codified in the Takoma Park City Code, Chapter 6.22 (Landlord-Tenant Relations). Key provisions:

Vacancy Decontrol: The Critical Distinction from Hard Rent Control

Takoma Park’s ordinance uses vacancy decontrol: when a covered unit becomes vacant because the tenant moves out voluntarily or is evicted, the landlord may reset the rent to the current market rate for the incoming tenant. Future annual increases for that new tenancy are then capped at CPI or 3% going forward. This feature distinguishes Takoma Park from “hard rent control” jurisdictions like Saint Paul, Minnesota (which prohibits rent increases even between tenancies) and New York City’s rent stabilization (which restricts vacancy increases to a small percentage above the prior rent).

Vacancy decontrol means that over time, the rent-stabilized stock in Takoma Park tracks market rates more closely than hard-control jurisdictions, since the initial rent for each new tenancy can be set at market. The cap only binds during a continuous tenancy. This is why Takoma Park’s rents are not dramatically below Montgomery County’s market rents for comparable units: the difference primarily accrues to long-term tenants who have been in place for many years without turnover.

Geographic Footprint

Takoma Park occupies approximately 2.1 square miles entirely within Montgomery County (with a small portion historically in Prince George’s County that was annexed over time). The city has a distinctive character: a dense, walkable urban grid; a strong student/young professional presence (proximity to University of Maryland, Howard University, and DC universities); significant immigrant communities; and an arts/retail corridor along Ethan Allen Avenue and Carroll Avenue. The Maryland-DC border runs along Eastern Avenue through Takoma Park, and many residents work across the border in DC.

Rental units in Takoma Park command a premium relative to nearby Prince George’s County communities, driven by the city’s walkability, transit access (Takoma Metro station on the Red Line), and school quality. The rent stabilization ordinance partially constrains annual rent growth for covered long-term tenants but does not prevent market rents from rising for new move-ins under vacancy decontrol.

6. Montgomery County Rent Stabilization Act — Bill 15-23 (Effective October 2024)

Montgomery County’s Rent Stabilization Act, enacted as Montgomery County Council Bill 15-23 and signed by County Executive Marc Elrich in October 2023, represents the most significant new residential rent control legislation enacted anywhere in the Washington DC-Baltimore metropolitan region in a generation. Rent increase caps under the Act took effect on October 1, 2024 — meaning 2026 is only the second full year of enforcement.

With approximately 1.07 million residents and a median household income of approximately $115,000 (one of the highest county medians in the United States), Montgomery County’s rent stabilization law covers a large, high-income suburban rental market that differs substantially from the central-city rental markets where rent control is most commonly discussed.

Core Provisions of Bill 15-23

The 23-Year New-Construction Exemption: Longest in the Nation

Perhaps the most distinctive structural feature of Montgomery County’s rent stabilization law is its new-construction exemption: any residential rental unit with a certificate of first occupancy issued within the preceding 23 years is exempt from the rent increase cap. This 23-year rolling window is the longest new-construction exemption in any US rent stabilization jurisdiction — substantially longer than California AB 1482 (15 years, Cal. Civ. Code §1947.12(d)(4)(A)), Oregon SB 608/611 (15 years, ORS §90.323(2)(a)), and Washington State HB 1217 (12 years, RCW §59.18.140).

The policy rationale is explicit in the legislative record: the 23-year exemption is designed to avoid suppressing new multifamily construction in one of the Mid-Atlantic’s most expensive and supply-constrained housing markets. As of 2026, any Montgomery County multifamily building whose first occupancy date falls on or after approximately 2003 is exempt from the rent cap. This means a significant share of the post-2003 construction boom — which added thousands of multifamily units to the Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, and Germantown corridors — is entirely outside the stabilization framework for another decade or more.

Market Coverage Estimate

The precise number of covered units is subject to ongoing OLTA registration processes. Industry estimates suggest that approximately 60–75% of Montgomery County’s rental units are potentially within scope of the Act (multifamily, pre-2003 construction, not otherwise exempt), though the actual covered percentage may be lower once owner-occupied, single-family, and government-subsidized units are excluded. Montgomery County has approximately 120,000–135,000 total rental units; the covered pool is likely 70,000–100,000 units.

First Full Year Implementation Notes

The October 2024 effective date means 2026 is only the second year of full enforcement. Several implementation dynamics are still being established: landlord registration compliance is ongoing; OLTA is building its complaint-processing capacity; and a handful of above-cap petitions filed by landlords for capital improvement pass-through are working through the administrative process. Landlords and tenants seeking specific guidance on covered status, petition procedures, or contested increases should contact OLTA directly at (240) 777-0311 or consult the Montgomery County DHCA website.

7. Baltimore City — No Rent Control; Johns Hopkins, T. Rowe Price, Under Armour, NSA

Baltimore City has no rent control ordinance and no active proposal for rent stabilization as of 2026. All Maryland statewide rules apply: 2-month deposit cap, 45-day return, treble damages, and 10-day pre-filing notice. Within that framework, Baltimore landlords may raise rent at market rates. The District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City (505 N. Charles St.) handles eviction proceedings.

Major Baltimore City Employers and Rental Demand Drivers

Baltimore City Unique Characteristics

Lead paint risk. Baltimore was built largely before 1940 using lead-based paint, and lead paint contamination remains a serious public health and legal issue. As of 2022–2024, approximately 5–6% of Baltimore City children under age 6 test positive for elevated blood lead levels — among the highest rates of any major US city. Maryland law (Environment Art. §6-801 et seq.) and Baltimore City Code impose strict lead paint inspection, certification, and disclosure requirements for pre-1978 rental units. Landlords of covered units must register with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and maintain current lead-free or lead-safe certifications. Failure to comply can result in loss of the rental license, significant civil liability, and inability to collect rent. Lead paint compliance is among the single most important legal risks for Baltimore City landlords — potentially more consequential than any other Maryland-specific landlord obligation.

Rental registration. Baltimore City requires all residential rental properties to be registered with the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development. Annual registration fees apply. Unregistered units cannot lawfully be rented, and eviction actions may be dismissed if the landlord fails to produce a current registration certificate.

Vacancy rate. Baltimore City has historically had one of the higher residential vacancy rates among major US cities — estimated at 10–15% in many neighborhoods. The post-pandemic rental market tightened significantly, but Baltimore City’s downtown and inner-harbor neighborhoods have seen significant gentrification while many legacy East and West Baltimore neighborhoods continue to face vacancy and disinvestment. The dual-track market — premium waterfront/arts neighborhoods vs. legacy working-class communities — is more pronounced in Baltimore than in most comparably-sized cities.

8. Montgomery County Employers — NIH, Lockheed Martin, Marriott, Walter Reed NMMC

Montgomery County is home to one of the most distinctive employer clusters in the United States: the intersection of federal biomedical research, the world’s largest defense contractor headquarters, the world’s largest hotel company, and the nation’s premier military medical center — all within a few miles of each other along the Rockville Pike corridor.

The I-270 Biosciences Corridor. Montgomery County’s biotech cluster — stretching from Rockville north to Frederick along I-270 — has emerged as one of the most significant biomedical industry concentrations in the United States, second only to the Boston/Cambridge/Kendall Square ecosystem in density of NIH-spinoff companies. Biotech and pharma employers (GSK Rockville, MedImmune/AstraZeneca, Human Genome Sciences successor entities, Emergent BioSolutions, United Therapeutics, Novavax, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals/Mallinckrodt, and scores of smaller biotech startups) collectively employ tens of thousands of science and engineering professionals in the Shady Grove/Germantown/Gaithersburg corridor. These employers are among the primary drivers of rental demand in northern Montgomery County, particularly in Gaithersburg, Germantown, and North Potomac.

9. Baltimore City Neighborhood Rent Trajectories 2019–2026

Baltimore City experienced a moderate rent surge during the 2021–2022 pandemic-era demand peak, driven partly by remote work (lower Manhattan/DC workers relocating to Baltimore for lower rents) and partly by reduced new construction during the supply disruption years. Unlike the extreme 30–50% surges seen in Phoenix, Austin, and Nashville, Baltimore’s rent trajectory was more modest — reflecting the city’s persistent vacancy rate, population loss, and lack of the tech-sector employment boom that drove coastal city rents. By 2026, Baltimore rents are moderating, with some neighborhoods reverting closer to 2019 levels in inflation-adjusted terms.

City income tax note. Baltimore City imposes a local income tax of 3.2% on top of Maryland’s state income tax — the highest local income tax rate in Maryland. Many moderate-income renters and landlords factor this into location decisions, contributing to the suburban flight dynamic that has historically depressed Baltimore City’s rental demand relative to Baltimore County (which has no municipal income tax) and Howard County. A renter earning $60,000 in Baltimore City pays approximately $1,920/year more in local income tax than an equivalent earner living in Baltimore County — effectively a $160/month premium on top of any rent differential.

10. Montgomery County Neighborhood Rent Trajectories 2019–2026

Montgomery County has experienced substantially stronger rent appreciation than Baltimore City over the 2019–2026 period, driven by the county’s extreme concentration of high-income federal government, defense contractor, and biotech employment; proximity to DC; excellent public schools; and constrained land supply (much of western Montgomery County is protected agricultural reserve). The October 2024 effective date of Bill 15-23’s rent caps means the law is too new to have materially affected 2026 rent levels, but its effect on long-term rent trajectory in covered units will become visible over the 2025–2030 period.

Montgomery County income tax. Like Baltimore City, Montgomery County residents pay a local piggyback income tax (Montgomery County’s rate is 3.2% for most income levels, same as Baltimore City). The county income tax is automatic for all Maryland taxpayers residing in Montgomery County — it is deducted at source and paid directly to the county through the state income tax system. For rental market purposes, the income tax matters because it affects the net disposable income available for rent, indirectly constraining rent-to-income ratios at the margin.

11. 8-State Comparison: Maryland vs. Neighboring and Peer States

Maryland’s combination of no statewide preemption, active rent control in two jurisdictions, a 2-month deposit cap, a 45-day return period with treble damages, and a 10-day pre-filing notice distinguishes it from both preemption-heavy Midwest states and the more landlord-tilted Sun Belt states.

The table illustrates Maryland’s position as a moderate tenant-protective state in deposit rules (2-month cap; 45-day return; 3× penalty) but a nuanced jurisdiction on rent control (no preemption; two active local programs; remaining jurisdictions entirely free of caps). Among the states shown, Maryland has the highest wrongful-withholding penalty multiplier (tied with DC and Texas at 3×) and among the longer return windows (tied with Virginia and DC at 45 days).

12. 8-Step Maryland Landlord Compliance Checklist

1. Confirm rent stabilization coverage before pricing units. If your property is in Takoma Park, verify whether your units are covered by Chapter 6.22 of the Takoma Park City Code (most pre-2000 units). If in unincorporated Montgomery County (or an incorporated Montgomery County municipality subject to Bill 15-23), confirm whether your building is exempt under the 23-year new-construction exemption or another exemption category. Contact the Takoma Park Rent Stabilization program or Montgomery County OLTA at (240) 777-0311 for coverage determinations. Note that the annual increase cap (CPI or 3%, lower) applies to each renewal — failure to cap an increase subjects you to OLTA complaint, potential rollback order, and civil liability.
2. Deposit: collect no more than 2 months’ rent total (all deposits combined). Under Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-203, the combined total of security deposit + pet deposit + any other move-in deposit cannot exceed 2 months’ rent. Open an interest-bearing savings account or certificate of deposit at a federally insured institution within 30 days of receipt and document the account. Keep deposit funds separate from operating accounts (commingling is a separate statutory violation). At the end of the tenancy, return the deposit with accrued interest within 45 days or face the 3× treble damages exposure.
3. Complete a joint move-in inspection within 5 days (§8-211.1). Maryland law requires landlords to offer the tenant a joint inspection of the unit within 5 days of the tenant taking possession. The tenant may decline, but the offer must be made. Photograph and document all pre-existing conditions (paint chips, scuffs, appliance conditions, any damage) with timestamps. Have the tenant sign the inspection checklist. This documentation is your primary defense against the treble damages claim at move-out — without it, disputed deposit deductions are difficult to win in District Court.
4. Serve the 10-day written notice before filing any FTPR action. Maryland Real Property §8-401 requires written notice to the tenant at least 10 days before filing a Failure to Pay Rent summons with the District Court. The notice should state the amount of rent overdue, the total balance owed, and that court action will commence if payment is not received. Serve by hand delivery to the tenant or by posting on the main entrance of the unit. Document the service date. Filing an FTPR complaint before the 10-day period expires can result in case dismissal.
5. For Baltimore City properties: verify lead paint compliance before renting. If your unit is in a building constructed before 1978, Maryland’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (LPPP) requires registration with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), inspection or risk reduction treatment, and presentation of a current Certificate of Full Risk Reduction or Lead-Free Certificate to each new tenant. Baltimore City imposes additional requirements. Renting a covered unit without current lead paint compliance can result in loss of rental license, inability to enforce the lease (including inability to collect rent in eviction proceedings), and significant civil liability. Start the process at least 60–90 days before a new tenancy begins.
6. Register your rental unit (Baltimore City) or complete Montgomery County OLTA registration. Baltimore City requires all residential rental properties to be registered annually with the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development. An unregistered unit cannot lawfully collect rent, and eviction cases may be dismissed if the landlord is not current. Montgomery County landlords with covered units under Bill 15-23 must register with OLTA annually; non-registration exposes you to complaints and administrative penalties.
7. Return the deposit within 45 days with itemized statement and interest. The 45-day clock begins when the tenancy ends. Within that window, return the full deposit with accrued interest or deliver an itemized written statement listing each deduction with its specific dollar amount. A vague “cleaning fee” without itemization does not comply with §8-208 — and failure to itemize within 45 days forfeits ALL rights to retain any portion of the deposit. Set an internal 35-day deadline to give yourself a 10-day review buffer. Never deduct for normal wear and tear (paint dulling, minor carpet wear, small nail holes from wall art).
8. Never attempt self-help eviction. Maryland law strictly prohibits landlords from changing locks, removing a tenant’s belongings, disconnecting utilities, removing doors or windows, or otherwise attempting to remove a tenant without a court order and sheriff’s execution. Self-help eviction is both a civil violation (tenant may sue for damages, including the right to re-enter and remain) and potentially a criminal trespass and property offense. All Maryland evictions must proceed through the District Court of Maryland process: written notice → FTPR filing → District Court hearing → Judgment for Possession → Warrant of Restitution → Sheriff execution. Any step skipped, including the 10-day pre-filing notice, can restart the clock and expose the landlord to additional liability.

13. Frequently Asked Questions