Maryland Eviction Laws
Maryland notice periods for ending a tenancy and starting an eviction, each as LeaseCraft read it in the statute at the official source, with its citation and read date (most recently ).
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Maryland notice periods
Periods are as the statute states them: some are minimums, some apply unless the lease sets another. "Lease controls" means there is no statutory period; "No pre-suit notice" means none is required before filing.
| Situation | Notice period | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid rent | 10 days |
Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-401(c)
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| Lease violation | 30 days |
Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402.1(a)
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| Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure | 14 days |
Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402.1(a)(1)(i)2
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|
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy | 60 days |
Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402(c)(2)(i)
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| Tenant staying after the lease ends | 60 days |
Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402(b), (c)
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|
| Ending a week-to-week tenancy | 7 days |
Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402(c)(2)(iii)
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What the Maryland statute says
Unpaid rent 10 days
- Written notice of intent to file a claim in District Court; tenant may cure within 10 days after the notice is provided.
- Notice must be in the form created by the Maryland Judiciary (DC-CV-115).
- Complaint must state and affirm the date the notice was provided (2024 ch. 124 amendment).
Lease violation 30 days
- Lease must provide that the landlord may repossess the premises prior to expiration for breach.
- 30 days' written notice that the tenant is in violation of the lease and the landlord desires to repossess.
- Court must find the breach 'substantial and warrants an eviction'.
Exceptions
- 14 days' notice where the tenant's (or invitee's) behavior demonstrates a clear and imminent danger of serious harm (see eviction_notice_unconditional).
Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure 14 days
- Behavior by the tenant or a person on the property with the tenant's consent that demonstrates a clear and imminent danger of serious harm to self, other tenants, the landlord, landlord's property or representatives, or any other person on the property.
Ending a month-to-month tenancy 60 days
- Written notice of intent to terminate given 60 days before the expiration of the tenancy (also applies to written leases for a stated term in excess of 1 week).
Exceptions
- Foreclosure-purchaser situations (outside Baltimore City/Montgomery County and landlords with 5+ units): at least 30 days for month-to-month/week-to-week.
Tenant staying after the lease ends 60 days
- To bring a tenant-holding-over action after a written lease for a stated term expires, landlord must have given written notice of intent to terminate 60 days before expiration of the tenancy (90 days year-to-year; 7/21 days week-to-week).
Ending a week-to-week tenancy 7 days
- 7 days before expiration of the tenancy if the parties have a written lease.
- 21 days before expiration of the tenancy if the parties do NOT have a written lease.
Just cause, delivery, form and local rules in Maryland
How the notice may be delivered
Non-payment notice (§8-401(c)): first-class mail with certificate of mailing, affixing to the door of the premises, or—if elected by the tenant—e-mail, text message or electronic tenant portal; breach notice (§8-402.1): sent by first-class mail; §8-402 termination notice: 'written notice', method unspecified.
Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-401(c)(1)(ii); §8-402.1(a)(1)(ii); §8-402(c) · read
Required form or contents
Mandatory Judiciary form DC-CV-115 'Notice of Intent to File a Complaint for Summary Ejectment (Failure to Pay Rent)' (Rev. 10/2024) for non-payment; it includes Access to Counsel, rental-assistance and Court Help Center statements. https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/dccv115.pdf
- §8-401(c)(1)(ii): notice 'shall be in a form created by the Maryland Judiciary'.
Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-401(c)(1)(ii); Md. Judiciary form DC-CV-115 · read
Statewide just-cause rule
No statewide just-cause requirement
- No statewide just-cause requirement; DHCD Tenants' Bill of Rights (eff. 2025-10-01) describes only notice periods for non-renewal.
Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402; DHCD Maryland Tenants' Bill of Rights · read
City and county rules
Could not verify LeaseCraft has not verified this at the official source (Montgomery County Code Ch. 29, §29-31; Takoma Park Landlord-Tenant Handbook), so this page states no rule.
For Maryland landlords
- Find the period for your situation in the table above and count it from the day the notice is delivered.
- Deliver the notice the way Maryland law allows and keep a record of how and when.
- A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant.
For Maryland tenants
- Compare the notice you received with the period for its situation in the table above and the date it reached you.
- A notice is not a court order. If a case is filed, the court papers say how and by when to respond.
- Local legal aid and tenant organizations can explain your options.
How an eviction generally proceeds
A general outline, not Maryland law: the steps, their names and their deadlines differ by state and court. The Maryland rules LeaseCraft has verified are the ones above.
- Written notice. The landlord gives the notice the situation calls for and waits out its period.
- Court filing. If the tenant has not paid, cured or left, the landlord files an eviction case in court.
- Hearing. Both sides can be heard; the tenant may raise defenses such as an improper notice.
- Judgment. The court decides who has the right to the property.
- Removal. If the court rules for the landlord, removal follows its order. A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant.
Maryland eviction questions
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10 days, under Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-401(c). Written notice of intent to file a claim in District Court; tenant may cure within 10 days after the notice is provided. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
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30 days, under Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402.1(a). Lease must provide that the landlord may repossess the premises prior to expiration for breach. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
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60 days, under Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402(c)(2)(i). Written notice of intent to terminate given 60 days before the expiration of the tenancy (also applies to written leases for a stated term in excess of 1 week). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
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Non-payment notice (§8-401(c)): first-class mail with certificate of mailing, affixing to the door of the premises, or—if elected by the tenant—e-mail, text message or electronic tenant portal; breach notice (§8-402.1): sent by first-class mail; §8-402 termination notice: 'written notice', method unspecified. Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-401(c)(1)(ii); §8-402.1(a)(1)(ii); §8-402(c). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
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No statewide just-cause requirement, under Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402; DHCD Maryland Tenants' Bill of Rights. No statewide just-cause requirement; DHCD Tenants' Bill of Rights (eff. 2025-10-01) describes only notice periods for non-renewal. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
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7 days, under Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402(c)(2)(iii). 7 days before expiration of the tenancy if the parties have a written lease. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
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Cities and counties can add rules. LeaseCraft is not a law firm and this is not legal advice.