🦀 Maryland Eviction Notice Laws

Maryland is unique—for non-payment of rent, no pre-filing notice is required. Landlords can file a Failure to Pay Rent complaint in District Court as soon as the rent is late (typically after any grace period in the lease).

However, the tenant has a strong right to “redeem”—they can pay all rent, late fees, and court costs any time before the trial to stop the eviction.

Key Points:

• ✅ Can file immediately after rent is late
• ✅ Tenant can pay and stop eviction before trial
• ✅ Court costs must be paid by losing party

For substantial lease violations other than non-payment, Maryland requires a 30-day notice to cure or vacate. The notice must specify the violation and give the tenant 30 days to cure.

If the violation is not cured within 30 days, you can file a Tenant Holding Over action.

For month-to-month tenancies, the notice period depends on location:

• Baltimore City: 60 days’ notice required
• Montgomery County: 60 days (with additional just-cause requirements)
• Other areas: Generally 30 days (or one rental period, whichever is longer)

For serious violations that pose a clear and imminent danger, Maryland allows a 14-day notice with no right to cure:

• 🔴 Drug activity
• 🔴 Violence or threats of violence
• 🔴 Activity endangering health or safety

Maryland tenants can pay all rent, fees, and costs before trial to stop the eviction. This is a powerful right.

For non-payment cases, notice isn’t required—but for other evictions, defective notice is a valid defense.

Maryland has a rent escrow process where tenants can pay rent into court if there are habitability issues.

Maryland prohibits retaliatory evictions.