✓ Law Verified June 2026
This guide explains maryland security deposit law in plain English — how much your landlord can charge, when they must return it, what they can and cannot deduct, and what to do if they do not give it back. All figures are from Maryland law, verified as of June 2026.
In This Maryland Guide:
Maryland Security Deposit Rules at a Glance
| Maximum deposit | 2 months’ rent. Maryland law limits the security deposit to the equivalent of 2 months’ rent per dwelling unit, regardless of the number of tenants. This is set by Maryland Real Property Code Section 8-203. |
| Return deadline | 45. The landlord must return the security deposit, plus accrued interest, within 45 days after the end of the tenancy. |
| Itemized deductions required | YES. If the landlord withholds any portion of the deposit, the landlord must send the tenant a written list of the claimed damages together with a statement of the actual costs incurred to make repairs, all within 45 days after the tenancy ends. If the landlord fails to provide this itemized statement within 45 days, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages. |
| Interest on deposit required | YES. Simple interest at the greater of the US Treasury yield curve rate for 1-year securities or 1.5% per year must be paid on security deposits of 50 or more. Interest accrues monthly from the date the deposit was received, but only after the deposit has been held for at least 6 months. Interest is not compounded. |
| Penalty for late/bad-faith return | If the landlord fails to return the deposit plus accrued interest within 45 days without a reasonable basis, the tenant may sue for up to 3 times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney’s fees. This treble damages penalty applies when the landlord acts in bad faith or without reasonable justification for withholding funds. |
Move-in/move-out walkthrough: YES, if the tenant requests it. The tenant must notify the landlord by certified mail at least 15 days before moving out, stating the intent to move, the moving date, and the tenant’s new address. Upon receiving this notice, the landlord must notify the tenant by certified mail of the inspection date and time, which must be within 5 days before or 5 days after the moving date.
The tenant then has the right to be present during the inspection. If the landlord fails to comply with this inspection process after the tenant properly requests it, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the security deposit.
Separate deposit account: YES. The landlord must deposit all security deposits into a federally insured financial institution that does business in Maryland within 30 days of receiving them. The account must be used exclusively for security deposits and must bear interest. Alternatively, the landlord may hold deposits as insured certificates of deposit at a federally insured institution in Maryland.
What Your Landlord Can and Cannot Deduct in Maryland
The landlord may deduct for unpaid rent, damage caused by the tenant or the tenant’s family, agents, employees, guests, or invitees that exceeds ordinary wear and tear to the leased premises, common areas, major appliances, and furnishings owned by the landlord, and costs or fees from an eviction case judgment. The landlord may also deduct for breach of lease damages.
Normal wear and tear vs damage: Maryland defines ordinary wear and tear as deterioration that occurs through normal, everyday use of the rental unit. Examples include small scratches, marks, or scuffs on walls or floors from moving furniture or daily living, and carpet worn through proper usage.
Damage beyond ordinary wear and tear includes things like ink stains on carpet, holes in walls, or broken fixtures caused by misuse. Tenants are not responsible for repairing or paying for ordinary wear and tear.
How to Get Your Deposit Back in Maryland
A Maryland tenant who believes the landlord wrongfully withheld part or all of the security deposit may file a lawsuit in Maryland District Court. The suit must be filed within 2 years from the end of the tenancy. Many tenants start by sending a written demand letter to the landlord requesting the return of the deposit.
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If that fails, the tenant can file in District Court and may recover up to 3 times the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney’s fees. Tenants may also file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office at oag.maryland.gov.
Other Maryland deposit rules: Maryland has several unique rules: (1) If the landlord charges more than the legal maximum deposit, the tenant may recover up to 3 times the excess amount charged, plus reasonable attorney’s fees. (2) The landlord must provide a written receipt for the security deposit at the time it is received.
(3) The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development provides an online Rental Security Deposit Calculator at dhcd.maryland.gov to help tenants and landlords calculate interest owed.
(4) Maryland’s Tenant Bill of Rights (effective October 1, 2025) consolidates and strengthens tenant protections. (5) The certified-mail walkthrough procedure is tenant-initiated and its violation by the landlord results in total forfeiture of the right to withhold any deposit amount — this is an unusually strong tenant protection.
Your landlord’s insurance won’t cover your stuff
Renters insurance protects your belongings for a few dollars a month.
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Official Maryland Sources & Resources
- Maryland Attorney General: https://oag.maryland.gov/i-need-to/Pages/landlord-tenant-disputes.aspx
- Maryland Security Deposit Statute: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-203
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: hud.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Understanding Maryland Security Deposit Law
Your Maryland security deposit is your money until the landlord proves a lawful deduction. Maryland security deposit law sets clear limits on how much can be charged, what can be deducted, and when the balance must be returned. If your landlord misses the Maryland security deposit return deadline or takes deductions that are not allowed, you may be entitled to penalties.
Document the condition of your unit at move-in and move-out — photos are the best protection for your Maryland security deposit.
This Maryland security deposit guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Laws change — verify with your state or a local legal-aid office.
More Maryland Tenant Rights Guides
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- Maryland Eviction Process
- Maryland Rent Increase Laws
- Maryland Repairs & Habitability
- Breaking a Lease in Maryland
- Eviction Timeline Calculator
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Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Landlord-tenant laws change and vary by city and county within a state. Verify current rules with your state, your local court, or a free legal-aid office before acting. If you are facing eviction, contact a local tenant attorney or legal-aid organization right away.