Maryland Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
Maryland rules on privacy, guests & animals for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: No landlord-specific statute, but strong criminal rules apply. A person may not place a camera on real property where a private residence is located to deliberately and secretly observe someone inside the residence. Md. Code, Crim. Law § 3-903; § 3-902; Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-402(c)(3)
The rules in Maryland
| Cameras & privacy | No landlord-specific statute, but strong criminal rules apply. A person may not place a camera on real property where a private residence is located to deliberately and secretly observe someone inside the residence. It is not a defense that the defendant owns the residence. Exceptions include cameras placed with an adult resident's consent and cameras without intent to secretly observe people inside. Violations are a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $2,500) and give the person observed a civil claim for damages and attorney fees. Secret surveillance with prurient intent in a private place such as a bedroom or bathroom is separately a crime. Recording private conversations generally requires the consent of ALL parties. § 3-902: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcr§ion=3-902&enactments=false. § 10-402: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=10-402&enactments=false. § 3-903(b)(8) exempts certain licensed security professionals observing common areas of multiunit dwellings. |
|---|---|
| Guests & occupants | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Maryland's landlord-tenant title doesn't define guest versus tenant or give roommate rights. Fair housing law bars discrimination based on familial status and marital status. Occupancy limits come from local housing codes or the state Minimum Livability Code (COMAR 09.12.54). |
| Service & support animals (state law) | A person with a disability (or a parent of a minor child with a disability) who has or wants a service animal is entitled to full and equal access to housing, and cannot be charged extra for the service animal. The tenant may be liable for damage the animal causes. State law defines 'service animal' as an animal individually trained to do work or tasks for a person with a disability. State fair housing law also bans disability discrimination in rentals. No state statute sets documentation rules for emotional support animals or penalizes misrepresenting an animal. § 7-701: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=ghu§ion=7-701&enactments=false. The § 7-704(c) housing access rule doesn't apply where occupants rent out no more than one room in a single-family home. Emotional support animals are covered through federal Fair Housing Act reasonable-accommodation rules. |
Related questions
- Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental?
- Can a landlord limit overnight guests or roommates?
- Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal?
Maryland vs. neighboring states
| State | Cameras & privacy | Guests & occupants | Service & support animals (state law) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | No landlord-specific statute, but strong criminal rules apply. A person may not place a camera on real property where a private residence is located to deliberately and secretly observe someone inside the residence. It is not a defense that the defendant owns the residence. Exceptions include cameras placed with an adult resident's consent and cameras without intent to secretly observe people inside. Violations are a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $2,500) and give the person observed a civil claim for damages and attorney fees. Secret surveillance with prurient intent in a private place such as a bedroom or bathroom is separately a crime. Recording private conversations generally requires the consent of ALL parties. Md. Code, Crim. Law § 3-903; § 3-902; Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-402(c)(3) | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Maryland's landlord-tenant title doesn't define guest versus tenant or give roommate rights. Fair housing law bars discrimination based on familial status and marital status. Md. Code, Real Prop. Title 8, Subtitles 1-4 (checked); State Gov't § 20-705 | A person with a disability (or a parent of a minor child with a disability) who has or wants a service animal is entitled to full and equal access to housing, and cannot be charged extra for the service animal. The tenant may be liable for damage the animal causes. State law defines 'service animal' as an animal individually trained to do work or tasks for a person with a disability. State fair housing law also bans disability discrimination in rentals. No state statute sets documentation rules for emotional support animals or penalizes misrepresenting an animal. Md. Code, Human Servs. §§ 7-701(g), 7-704(c); State Gov't § 20-705 |
| Delaware | No landlord-specific statute, but Delaware's privacy law applies directly: it is a crime to install, in any private place, a device for observing, photographing or recording sounds or events without the consent of the persons entitled to privacy there, or to use a device outside a private place to pick up sounds from inside that would not ordinarily be audible. Recording people undressing where they expect privacy, and intercepting private communications without consent, are also crimes. 11 Del. C. § 1335(a)(1)-(4), (6); 25 Del. C. § 5509 | No statute on guests versus tenants, occupancy limits or roommate rights — the lease governs. Tenants and their guests must behave so as not to unreasonably interfere with other tenants' peaceful enjoyment, and landlords may adopt reasonable written rules that meet statutory conditions. 25 Del. C. §§ 5511, 5512 | A landlord may require a pet deposit of up to one month's rent, but may not require any pet deposit for a certified and trained support animal for a disabled resident of the unit. A 'support animal' is defined as an animal individually trained to do work or tasks for a disabled person. Delaware has no state statute on emotional support animal documentation or misrepresentation penalties; reasonable-accommodation requests are governed by state and federal fair housing law. 25 Del. C. §§ 5514(i), 5141 (support animal) |
| Pennsylvania | No landlord-specific statute. Viewing or recording a person without knowledge and consent, for sexual gratification, while the person is fully or partially nude in a place with a reasonable expectation of privacy (or recording intimate parts not intended to be publicly visible) is criminal invasion of privacy. Intercepting oral, wire or electronic communications is a third-degree felony unless all parties consent (two-party/all-party consent state). 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 7507.1, 5703, 5704(4) | In tenement buildings and multiple dwelling premises (three or more households), tenants have a non-waivable right to invite social guests, family or visitors for a reasonable period of time, and business visitors, tradesmen and deliverymen, as long as tenant obligations are observed; the landlord may not charge any fee or extra rent for exercising these rights. Tenants must not let persons on the premises with their permission willfully damage the property or disturb other tenants. No statewide occupancy limit or roommate statute. 68 P.S. §§ 250.501-A, 250.503-A, 250.504-A | The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act makes it unlawful to refuse to lease housing, or to discriminate in terms, because of disability or because of the use of a guide animal (blindness or deafness) or support animal (physical handicap), or because a person is a handler or trainer of guide or support animals; inquiries and records about such animal use in connection with a lease are restricted. Pennsylvania has no statute specifically on emotional support animal documentation, misrepresentation penalties or pet-fee limits. 43 P.S. § 955(h)(1), (h)(6) (PHRA § 5(h)) |
| Virginia | No landlord camera statute. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor (Class 6 felony if the person is under 18) to knowingly create a video or still image of a nonconsenting person who is nude, in undergarments or undressed in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, bedroom or other location where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Virginia is a one-party consent state for audio interception. Tenants may install their own security systems (such as landlord-approved chain latches) subject to statutory conditions. Va. Code § 18.2-386.1; § 19.2-62(B)(2); § 55.1-1229(D) | Statutory definitions: an 'authorized occupant' lives in the unit with the landlord's consent but has not signed the lease and has no tenant financial obligations; a 'guest or invitee' has the tenant's permission to visit but not to occupy. No statewide occupancy limit; the lease governs. The tenant is responsible for the conduct of persons on the premises with the tenant's consent. A landlord may bar a guest or invitee from the property by written notice personally served for conduct that violates the lease or law (copy to the tenant), and may seek a trespass warrant; the tenant may challenge the bar by a tenant's assertion in general district court. Va. Code § 55.1-1200; § 55.1-1227(A)(12); § 55.1-1246 | A person with a disability who keeps an assistance animal must follow lease rules that apply to all residents (if they do not interfere with equal use), may not be charged a pet fee, pet deposit or additional rent for the animal, but is responsible for physical damage to the same extent pet owners are. If the disability and need are obvious or known, the housing provider may not ask for more verification; otherwise it may request reliable documentation of the disability and the disability-related need, including from anyone with a 'therapeutic relationship' with the person (licensed mental health providers, licensed disability service providers, certain peer support persons, caregivers or government entities with actual knowledge). Providing fraudulent supporting documentation is a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Va. Code § 36-96.3:1 |
| West Virginia | No landlord-specific statute. Criminal invasion of privacy: knowingly photographing, filming or digitally recording another person without that person's knowledge while the person is fully or partially nude in a place where a reasonable person would expect privacy is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $5,000); a second offense is a felony. West Virginia is a one-party consent state for audio interception. W. Va. Code § 61-8-28; § 62-1D-3(e) | No statute — no statewide occupancy limit or guest rule; the lease governs. The landlord's code-compliance and repair duties do not cover problems caused by a member of the tenant's family or other person on the premises with the tenant's consent. Since 2024, a 'squatter' (a person occupying a unit without a rental agreement and without the tenant's authorization) is not covered by the landlord-tenant article, and courts may not require eviction proceedings to remove one. W. Va. Code § 37-6-30(a)(2), (4); § 37-6-31 | Not verified yet |
| District of Columbia | No landlord-specific statute. It is a crime to install or maintain a peephole, mirror or any electronic device to secretly observe someone using a bathroom, undressing or engaged in sexual activity, or to record such a person without express and informed consent where they expect privacy. Intercepting oral or wire communications is illegal unless the person is a party or one party consents. Bathrooms and bedrooms must be private under the Housing Code. Outside emergencies, the landlord must give reasonable notice (48 hours unless the lease says otherwise or the tenant agrees) before entering. D.C. Code §§ 22-3531, 23-542; D.C. Code § 42-3505.51; D.C. Tenant Bill of Rights § 7 | No guest-versus-tenant statute — the lease governs guests and roommates. The Housing Code sets space-based occupancy standards: every bedroom must have at least 70 square feet, and a bedroom used by more than one person must have at least 50 square feet per occupant. D.C. Housing Code (14 DCMR), as summarized by the Department of Buildings | No D.C. statute specifically on service or emotional support animal documentation, misrepresentation penalties or pet-fee limits in housing. Requests to keep an assistance animal are reasonable-accommodation requests under the D.C. Human Rights Act's ban on disability discrimination in housing and the federal Fair Housing Act. D.C. Code § 2-1402.21 |
City rules that may add to state law
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- Free legal help in Maryland
Compare privacy, guests & animals in all 50 states and DC →
Maryland Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules FAQ
Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental in Maryland?
No landlord-specific statute, but strong criminal rules apply. A person may not place a camera on real property where a private residence is located to deliberately and secretly observe someone inside the residence. It is not a defense that the defendant owns the residence. Exceptions include cameras placed with an adult resident's consent and cameras without intent to secretly observe people inside. Violations are a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $2,500) and give the person observed a civil claim for damages and attorney fees. Secret surveillance with prurient intent in a private place such as a bedroom or bathroom is separately a crime. Recording private conversations generally requires the consent of ALL parties. (Md. Code, Crim. Law § 3-903; § 3-902; Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-402(c)(3))
Can a landlord limit guests or roommates in Maryland?
No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Maryland's landlord-tenant title doesn't define guest versus tenant or give roommate rights. Fair housing law bars discrimination based on familial status and marital status. (Md. Code, Real Prop. Title 8, Subtitles 1-4 (checked); State Gov't § 20-705)
Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal in Maryland?
A person with a disability (or a parent of a minor child with a disability) who has or wants a service animal is entitled to full and equal access to housing, and cannot be charged extra for the service animal. The tenant may be liable for damage the animal causes. State law defines 'service animal' as an animal individually trained to do work or tasks for a person with a disability. State fair housing law also bans disability discrimination in rentals. No state statute sets documentation rules for emotional support animals or penalizes misrepresenting an animal. (Md. Code, Human Servs. §§ 7-701(g), 7-704(c); State Gov't § 20-705)
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.