Maryland security deposit law: know your rights.
Understand the return, deduction and notice rules in Maryland. Check which conditions apply to your rental, then choose your next step.
Your deposit rights in Maryland
- Return timing
- Deposit plus simple interest due within 45 days after the end of the tenancy (§ 8-203(e)(1)); any itemized damage list must go by first-class mail within the same 45 days (§ 8-203(g)(1)).
- Accounting for deductions
- Written list of damages claimed plus a statement of costs actually incurred, mailed within 45 days; deductions limited to unpaid rent, breach damages, and damage beyond ordinary wear by the tenant or their guests.
- Deposit interest
- Deposits of $50+ held 6+ months accrue simple interest at the greater of 1.5% a year or the U.S. Treasury yield curve rate, payable at return (Md. Real Prop. § 8-203(e)).
Registry review: August 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules, not an attorney review of your case.
Does this rule apply to your rental?
Check the type of tenancy, the lease and any local or housing-program rules before relying on the statewide summary.
Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 ↗What starts the return clock?
Deposit plus simple interest due within 45 days after the end of the tenancy (§ 8-203(e)(1)); any itemized damage list must go by first-class mail within the same 45 days (§ 8-203(g)(1)).
Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 ↗Check your return timing
Optional estimate from your move-out date. Read the start conditions above before treating that estimate as the return deadline. You can start the free analysis without completing this check.
Check what the landlord deducted
The landlord must give a written receipt for the deposit itself (§ 8-203.1); the 45-day itemization requires a statement of costs actually incurred, not third-party repair receipts.
Match each charge to the work alleged, the lease provision and the records supporting the amount. Keep refunds and charges you accept separate from those you dispute.
Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 ↗What could you recover?
Failure to return the deposit plus interest within 45 days without a reasonable basis: the tenant may recover up to threefold of the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 8-203(e)(4)) - discretionary ('up to'). Charging above the 1-month cap separately allows recovery of up to 3x the excess plus fees (§ 8-203(b)(3)).
Start with the unpaid amount you dispute. Any additional statutory recovery depends on the conditions in Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)(4), including applicable notice requirements. A multiplier that already includes the deposit should not be added to that deposit again.
Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 ↗Put the rules to work
See how the rules fit your deposit dispute
Free analysis
Add the refund, charges and records. Review the deductions and possible remedies with an explanation tied to your facts.
Full case package $29-$49
Turn your case into a demand letter, organized exhibits and a next-step plan. Review the analysis before deciding to buy.
Your entered dates and deposit amount carry forward. Additional timing details are saved in case notes. The next step asks for the refund and charges so you can build on this check.
Choose your next step
Small-claims limit: $5,000. Filing: ~$34-$44 + service ($10 certified mail / $40 sheriff per defendant). The court guide explains the applicable limits and additional costs.
Questions about Maryland deposit rights
How long does a Maryland landlord have to return a security deposit?
Deposit plus simple interest due within 45 days after the end of the tenancy (§ 8-203(e)(1)); any itemized damage list must go by first-class mail within the same 45 days (§ 8-203(g)(1)).
Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 ↗See the timing rules →What happens if my landlord does not follow the deposit return rules in Maryland?
No itemized list within 45 days forfeits the right to withhold any part for damages (§ 8-203(g)(2)); withholding without a reasonable basis exposes the landlord to up to threefold damages. Keep proof of the dates, any refund, and the itemized statement.
Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 ↗Understand the possible recovery →What accounting should I ask for in Maryland?
Written list of damages claimed plus a statement of costs actually incurred, mailed within 45 days; deductions limited to unpaid rent, breach damages, and damage beyond ordinary wear by the tenant or their guests. The landlord must give a written receipt for the deposit itself (§ 8-203.1); the 45-day itemization requires a statement of costs actually incurred, not third-party repair receipts.
Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 ↗What should I check about deposit interest in Maryland?
Deposits of $50+ held 6+ months accrue simple interest at the greater of 1.5% a year or the U.S. Treasury yield curve rate, payable at return (Md. Real Prop. § 8-203(e)).
Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 ↗