Maryland Rent Increase Law
Maryland requires at least 90 days' notice before a rent increase takes effect, and longer notice in some cases.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Maryland rent increase rules at a glance
| Notice of a rent increase | 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) |
|---|---|
| Rent control | Set by local law onlyMontgomery County Executive, Letter to Owners re Rent Stabilization 2026 Annual Rent Increase Allowance (Feb. 27, 2026) |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy | Landlord 60 days · tenant 30 daysMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402(c) |
Notice of a rent increase
- In effect since .
What Maryland law says
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Maryland?
Maryland landlords must give written notice before raising rent: 90 days for leases longer than a month and 60 days for month-to-month tenancies (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-209(b)).
Does Maryland have rent control?
Maryland has no statewide rent cap, but Montgomery County limits yearly increases on most rentals built in or before 2003 to CPI-U plus 3% (never more than 6%; 5.2% from July 1, 2026), and other localities may have their own rules (Montgomery County Rent Stabilization letter, Feb. 27, 2026) (Montgomery County Executive, Letter to Owners re Rent Stabilization 2026 Annual Rent Increase Allowance (Feb. 27, 2026)).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Maryland?
A Maryland landlord must give 60 days' written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, while a tenant's notice of at least 30 days is enough (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402(c)(2)(i), (c)(3)).
How Maryland compares
No verified jurisdiction requires more than 90 days.
None of Maryland's 5 neighbors follows the same rule.
| Rent-increase notice | States |
|---|---|
| 90 days (more in some cases) | Maryland |
| 60 days (more in some cases) | Delaware, District of Columbia |
| No statewide period | Pennsylvania, West Virginia |
| 30 days (more in some cases) | 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) |
| Entry notice | 24 hours' noticeMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-221, 2025 Md. Laws ch. 564 (HB 1076), enacted as § 8-220 and codified as § 8-221 |
| 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) |
Read the Maryland law
Put the rent and renewal terms in writing
Related
- Maryland lease agreement
- Maryland landlord-tenant law
- Rent increase laws 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