Eviction in Baltimore City, Maryland
Where eviction cases are filed in Baltimore City, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Baltimore City
- Eviction court
- District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City — District Court of Maryland (state trial court of limited jurisdiction; hears all landlord-tenant cases) Court page
- Filing fee
- Failure to Pay Rent (summary ejectment), Baltimore City: $60 filing + $5 service per location (+$5 per tenant if personal service requested). Tenant Holding Over or Breach of Lease (Baltimore City): $66. Wrongful Entry & Detainer: $56. Warrant of Restitution (Baltimore City): $10 filing + $40 sheriff fee per case. District Court of Maryland Cost Schedule, DCA-109 (Rev. 03/2026), listed on mdcourts.gov/courts/feeschedules as effective March 1, 2026
- Notice before filing (state law)
- Before filing a failure-to-pay-rent case, the landlord must give the tenant written notice of intent to file (Maryland Judiciary form DC-CV-115) giving the tenant 10 days to pay. Notice may be sent by first-class mail with certificate of mailing, affixed to the door, or (if the tenant elected it) by email, text, or tenant portal with proof of transmission. The complaint must state the date notice was given. Maryland rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $1,857/month HUD
- Renter households
- 134,197 (52% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22
Where eviction cases are filed in Baltimore City
Eviction cases in Baltimore City are heard by the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City (District Court of Maryland (state trial court of limited jurisdiction; hears all landlord-tenant cases)).
- District Court - Wabash — 5800 Wabash Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215-3330 · website
- District Court - Hargrove (Patapsco Ave.) — 700 E. Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21225-1900 · website
- District Court - Eastside (North Ave.) — 1400 E. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21213-1407 · website
- District Court - Hubbard (North Calvert) — 500 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202-3651 · website
Court eviction page · Search court records · Self-help center
All four Baltimore City District Court locations list landlord/tenant cases; check your summons for the courthouse and time of your trial. Evictions are executed by the Baltimore City Sheriff.
How much it costs to file an eviction in Baltimore City
Failure to Pay Rent (summary ejectment), Baltimore City: $60 filing + $5 service per location (+$5 per tenant if personal service requested). Tenant Holding Over or Breach of Lease (Baltimore City): $66. Wrongful Entry & Detainer: $56. Warrant of Restitution (Baltimore City): $10 filing + $40 sheriff fee per case.
Filing fees include state surcharges (e.g., rental-assistance and records-improvement surcharges). Advance payment of costs is not required when the filer is represented by Maryland Legal Aid, JUDICARE, or a recognized pro bono/legal services program (per the schedule). Ask the clerk about waiver of prepaid costs if you cannot afford them.
How eviction cases work locally
| Notice of eviction date (Baltimore City Code Art. 13, § 8A-2) | After a judgment for possession, the landlord must notify the tenant of the first scheduled eviction date: mailed first-class with certificate of mailing at least 14 days before, and posted on the premises at least 7 days before. The notice must include the case number, the eviction date, and a warning that property left behind is treated as abandoned. Source: Official source |
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The Maryland eviction process
Maryland state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Baltimore City:
- Notice: for unpaid rent, written 10-day notice of intent to file (form DC-CV-115) (§ 8-401(c)); for breach of lease, 30 days' written notice (14 days for clear and imminent danger) (§ 8-402.1); for holdover, written notice to quit per § 8-402(c) (60 days for month-to-month).
- Landlord files a sworn complaint in District Court (failure to pay rent: form DC-CV-082) stating rent and late fees due (§ 8-401(b)).
- Summons issued; sheriff/constable mails notice and serves or posts it. In failure-to-pay-rent cases the trial is set for the fifth day after filing (§ 8-401(b)(4)). A money judgment against a residential tenant requires personal service.
- Trial: court may adjourn up to 1 day (longer only by consent). Tenant may pay all rent, late fees, and costs at trial to end the case (§ 8-401(e)).
- Judgment for possession: in rent cases, possession must be surrendered within 4 days after trial (extendable by physician's certificate up to 15 days); if not within 7 days, landlord may petition for a warrant of restitution (form DC-CV-081) (§ 8-401(e)-(f)). The Judiciary's housing page describes the wait as 7 business days.
- Landlord must order the warrant within 60 days of judgment (or end of any stay) or the judgment is stricken; warrant expires if not acted on within 60 days (§ 8-401(f)).
- Landlord must give the tenant written notice at least 6 days before the scheduled eviction (local jurisdictions may set 4 to 14 days) (§ 8-407(b), (e)).
Full Maryland eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Baltimore City
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $1,362 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,511 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,857 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,358 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,611 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Baltimore City: $1,331/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
Baltimore City Code Article 13 (Housing) - tenant eviction protections
Applies: Baltimore City (independent city; county-equivalent)
- Eviction date notice: 14 days by mail (certificate of mailing) and 7 days posting before the first scheduled eviction date.
- Right to counsel: Covered individuals offered representation in covered eviction-related proceedings, subject to appropriation.
Eviction help in Baltimore City
Free legal help
- Maryland Access to Counsel in Evictions (ACE) — Eligible tenants; call 2-1-1 and say you need legal help with an eviction case, or use the online intake.
- Maryland Legal Aid — Free civil legal services for eligible low-income Marylanders; intake 888-465-2468.
- Baltimore City DHCD - Legal Resources for Renters — City list of free legal advice/representation providers (Maryland Legal Aid, Public Justice Center, HPRP, Pro Bono Resource Center Tenant Volunteer Lawyer of the Day, Disability Rights Maryland).
Right to counsel: Baltimore City Code Art. 13, Subtitle 6A (Tenants' Right to Counsel in Eviction Cases), § 6A-3: covered individuals are to be offered legal representation from a designated organization in covered eviction-related proceedings, prioritized by lowest income and subject to appropriation. The statewide Maryland ACE program also applies (income at or below 50% of state median; call 211). Source
City rules in Baltimore City
Other Maryland counties
- Eviction in Montgomery County (Rockville, Silver Spring)
- Eviction in Prince George's County (Upper Marlboro, Hyattsville)
- Eviction in Baltimore County (Towson)
- Eviction in Anne Arundel County (Annapolis)
- Eviction in Howard County (Ellicott City)
Related
- Maryland landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in Maryland
- Maryland eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in Maryland (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Baltimore City?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Baltimore City?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Baltimore City?
What is the fair market rent in Baltimore City?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.