Maryland Landlord Entry Notice Law
Maryland landlords must give at least 24 hours' notice before entering a rented home.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Maryland landlord entry notice rules at a glance
| Notice before entry | 24 hours' noticeMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-221, 2025 Md. Laws ch. 564 (HB 1076), enacted as § 8-220 and codified as § 8-221 |
|---|---|
| Conditions | Written notice at least 24 hours ahead stating the date, approximate time and specific purpose; entry only 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday unless the tenant agrees otherwise in writing; delivery by first-class mail with certificate of mailing, notice on the door, or electronic delivery if the tenant elects it; no notice in an emergencyMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-221, 2025 Md. Laws ch. 564 (HB 1076), enacted as § 8-220 and codified as § 8-221 |
Notice before entry
- In effect since .
- Before : No statewide entry-notice statute; entry terms were left to the lease and local law (e.g., Montgomery County).
What Maryland law says
How much notice must a Maryland landlord give before entering a rental?
Since Oct. 1, 2025, Maryland landlords must give written notice at least 24 hours before entering, stating the date, approximate time and purpose, and may enter only 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday unless the tenant agrees otherwise or there is an emergency (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-221).
How Maryland compares
17 other verified jurisdictions use 24 hours; 9 require more.
None of Maryland's 5 neighbors follows the same rule.
| Notice before entry | States |
|---|---|
| 24 hours | Maryland |
| 48 hours | Delaware, District of Columbia |
| No statewide rule | Pennsylvania, West Virginia |
| 72 hours | Virginia |
Local rules in Maryland
Montgomery County bars late fees until rent is more than 10 days late (County Code § 29-27, per Montgomery County DHCA guidance). Other counties and Baltimore City may add local tenant protections; Real Prop. § 8-208(f) preserves stronger local laws.
Other Maryland rules
| Security deposit limit | 1 month's rent (with exceptions)Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(b), 2024 Md. Laws ch. 124 (HB 693), Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024 |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 45 days after the lease endsMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)(1) |
| Late-fee cap | 5% of the unpaid rent due for the rental period; weekly leases: $3 per week, max $12 per monthMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3) |
| Rent-increase notice | 90 days (Written notice by first-class mail with certificate of mailing (or electronic delivery if the tenant elected it): 90 days for tenancies with a term over 1 month (e.g., a 1-year lease); 60 days for terms over 1 week up to 1 month (month-to-month); 7 days for weekly tenancies with a written lease, 21 days without one)Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-209, 2023 Md. Laws ch. 146 (HB 151) |
| Notice for unpaid rent | 10 days (Notice of intent to file a claim for failure to pay rent (Maryland Judiciary form))Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401(c) |
| Month-to-month termination | Landlord 60 days · tenant 30 daysMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402(c) |
Read the Maryland law
Put the entry-notice terms in writing
Related
- Maryland lease agreement
- Maryland landlord-tenant law
- Landlord entry notice in every state
- Maryland notice to vacate
- Maryland late rent notice
- Maryland rent increase notice
- Maryland security deposit return letter
- Maryland notice of entry
- Maryland lease termination letter
- Maryland lease renewal letter
- Maryland pet addendum