Maryland Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
Maryland rules on rent increases & late fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: No statewide rent control or statewide cap on rent increases. Local jurisdictions may adopt rent regulation (statewide preemption not found). Md. Office of the Attorney General, 'Landlords and Tenants: Tips on Avoiding Disputes' (Rev. Feb. 2025); DHCD Tenants' Bill of Rights (eff. Oct 1, 2026)
The rules in Maryland
| Rent control / increase limits | No statewide rent control or statewide cap on rent increases. Local jurisdictions may adopt rent regulation (statewide preemption not found). Rent-increase notice is statutory: written notice at least 90 days before an increase for tenancies over 1 month, 60 days for tenancies over 1 week up to 1 month, and 7 days (written lease) / 21 days (no written lease) for weekly tenancies (Real Prop. § 8-209(b)(3)). Local rent stabilization exists in Montgomery County: for July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 the allowance is 5.2% (the lesser of CPI-U + 3% or 6%), Montgomery County Code §§ 29-57, 29-58 (https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-housing-community-affairs/rent-stabilization/rent-stabilization-increases-limitations). Takoma Park and Prince George's County also have local rules; see the county pages. |
|---|---|
| Late fees | Capped at 5% of the amount of unpaid rent for the rental period. For weekly rent: no more than $3 per week, with a total of no more than $12 per month. No statutory grace period. Lease terms exceeding the cap are unenforceable (§ 8-208(g)). The AG's guide notes a grace period may come only from the lease or local law. |
Free calculators
- Late Fee Checker — Check a late fee against your state's cap and grace period.
- Rent Increase Calculator — In states with a statewide rent cap, see the most your rent can go up this year.
Related questions
- Can a landlord raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
Maryland vs. neighboring states
| State | Rent control / increase limits | Late fees |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | No statewide rent control or statewide cap on rent increases. Local jurisdictions may adopt rent regulation (statewide preemption not found). Md. Office of the Attorney General, 'Landlords and Tenants: Tips on Avoiding Disputes' (Rev. Feb. 2025); DHCD Tenants' Bill of Rights (eff. Oct 1, 2026) | Capped at 5% of the amount of unpaid rent for the rental period. For weekly rent: no more than $3 per week, with a total of no more than $12 per month. No statutory grace period. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3) |
| Delaware | No rent control or rent-increase cap in the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code. Rent increases take effect at renewal with 60 days' written notice. 25 Del. C. §§ 5106, 5107 | Capped at 5% of the monthly rent, and cannot be charged until rent is more than 5 days late. If the landlord has no office in the county where rent can be paid, the due date is extended 3 days. 25 Del. C. § 5501(d) |
| Pennsylvania | No statewide rent control or rent-increase cap, and no statute that expressly bans local rent control. No statute authorizes it either, and home-rule municipalities may not set duties or requirements for businesses unless a statewide statute expressly allows it, so a local rent cap would face a serious legal challenge. 53 Pa.C.S. § 2962(c)(2), (e), (f) (Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law) | No statutory cap. None in statute |
| Virginia | No statewide rent control or rent-increase cap, and no Virginia statute authorizes local rent control. Va. Code Title 55.1, Ch. 12 (no cap); 2026 HB 278 / SB 355 | Only if provided in the written rental agreement; capped at the lesser of 10% of the periodic rent or 10% of the remaining balance due. Where there is no written lease, rent is late if not paid by the 5th of the month. Va. Code 55.1-1204(E), (C) |
| West Virginia | No state rent control law. No enacted statewide preemption of local rent control was found in the code. W. Va. Code § 37-6-9 (current text contains no rent-control provision) | No statutory cap W. Va. Code ch. 37, art. 6 |
| District of Columbia | Yes. DC's Rent Stabilization Program covers many older rental units. Annual increase cap for covered units: lesser of CPI + 2% or 10% (registered elderly/disabled tenants: lowest of CPI, Social Security COLA, or 5%), at most once per 12 months, and only if the landlord is licensed/registered and the unit substantially complies with the housing code. All tenants (rent controlled or not) get at least 60 days' written notice of any rent increase. D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.08, 42-3502.06(e), 42-3502.24, 42-3509.04(b) | No more than 5% of the full rent due, only if the written lease states the maximum fee and rent is not paid within 5 days after the due date (or a longer lease grace period). Only one late fee per late payment; no interest on late fees; cannot be deducted from later rent; no eviction for unpaid late fees; no late fee on a subsidy provider's share. D.C. Code § 42-3505.31 |
City rules that may add to state law
More Maryland rental law
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- Breaking a Lease in Maryland
- Squatters' Rights in Maryland
- Maryland Rental Fee Rules
- Maryland Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Maryland Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Maryland Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Maryland Landlord Selling the House
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- Maryland Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Maryland landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Maryland
Compare rent increases & late fees in all 50 states and DC →
Maryland Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws FAQ
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in Maryland?
No statewide rent control or statewide cap on rent increases. Local jurisdictions may adopt rent regulation (statewide preemption not found). (Md. Office of the Attorney General, 'Landlords and Tenants: Tips on Avoiding Disputes' (Rev. Feb. 2025); DHCD Tenants' Bill of Rights (eff. Oct 1, 2026))
Is there a limit on late fees in Maryland?
Capped at 5% of the amount of unpaid rent for the rental period. For weekly rent: no more than $3 per week, with a total of no more than $12 per month. No statutory grace period. (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3))
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.