Maryland Security Deposit Rules (2026): The One-Month Cap, 45 Days and the Certified-Mail Step

Maryland changed its security deposit law in 2024. For leases that began on or after October 1, 2024, most deposits are capped at one month’s rent. The 45-day deadline to return the deposit with interest, the itemized list of damages and the tenant’s right to attend the move-out inspection all remain, and so does one step many renters miss: notice by certified mail. This guide explains the rules in plain English and shows how to move out so cleaning costs you nothing. It is general information, not legal advice; check the current statute for your situation.

Maryland deposit rules at a glance

Maryland security deposit rules (Real Property § 8-203)

Rule	What it says
Deposit cap	Generally one month’s rent for leases from October 1, 2024; two months in limited cases agreed in writing
Receipt	The landlord must give a receipt for the deposit, which may be in the written lease
Where it is held	In a Maryland, federally insured account used only for deposits, within 30 days
Interest	Simple interest at the greater of the one-year Treasury rate or 1.5% a year, on deposits of $50 or more held at least six months
Return deadline	45 days after the tenancy ends, with interest, less any damages rightly withheld
Itemized list	Sent by first-class mail within the same 45 days, with supporting documentation; without it the landlord loses the right to withhold
Penalty	Up to three times the amount withheld without a reasonable basis, plus reasonable attorney’s fees

The certified-mail step

To keep your right to attend the move-out inspection, send the landlord a letter by certified mail at least 15 days before you move. It should say that you are moving, the date you will move, and your new address. The landlord must then tell you, also by certified mail, the date and time of the inspection, which must take place within five days before or after your moving date. Keep the green card or tracking receipt with your lease. Without the notice you lose leverage at exactly the moment it matters.

Your rights at move-in

Maryland gives tenants the right to a move-in inspection too. If you ask within the first 15 days, the landlord must inspect with you and give you a written list of damage that already exists. Ask for it, and take your own dated photos and video of every room, inside the oven, fridge and cabinets, and the bathroom grout. If the home was handed over dirty, say so in writing then; it is far harder to prove a year later.

What can be deducted

The deposit can cover unpaid rent, damage from breaking the lease, and damage to the home, common areas, major appliances or furnishings caused by you, your family or guests beyond ordinary wear and tear. It can’t be kept as a flat penalty; the landlord can withhold only for actual damages.

Wear and tear or chargeable? Common Maryland move-out items

Item	Usually wear and tear	Usually chargeable
Walls	Light scuffs, faded paint, small nail holes	Large holes, marker, grease on kitchen walls
Floors and carpet	Worn walkways, light fading	Pet stains, burns, heavy soil
Kitchen	Aged finishes	Greasy oven and hood, food left in the fridge
Bathroom	Worn grout, older fixtures	Mildew and scale left to build up
Basement and storage	Old stains on concrete	Belongings and trash left behind

Mildew: the Maryland item landlords notice

Humid Chesapeake summers make mildew the most common cleaning issue in Maryland bathrooms and basements: black spots on grout, caulk and ceilings, and a musty smell in closets and lower levels. Left alone it stains, and a landlord may treat it as neglect. Run bathroom fans, wipe wet tile, use a dehumidifier in the basement, and give mildew special attention before you leave.

Older homes and lead

Maryland rentals built before 1978 must be registered with the Maryland Department of the Environment and, unless certified lead-free, need a lead inspection certificate at each tenant turnover. That is the landlord’s responsibility, not yours, but it explains why owners of older homes care about dust on sills and floors. Clean with damp cloths and a HEPA vacuum, and never sand or scrape painted surfaces.

A move-out plan that protects your deposit

• At move-in: ask for the move-in inspection and a written damage list within 15 days, and take your own photos
• At least 15 days before you move: send notice, moving date and new address by certified mail
• Two weeks out: book your clean for after the movers and before the inspection
• The day before: defrost and empty the fridge and freezer
• Moving day: remove everything, including the basement and storage
• Cleaning day: kitchen, bathrooms, mildew, sills, vents and floors, then photograph each room
• Inspection: attend, bring your photos and note anything the landlord raises
• Day 45: if nothing has arrived, write to the landlord quoting § 8-203

Leaving early

If you end a lease early, the deposit can also cover damage the landlord suffers because the lease was broken, such as rent owed until the home is re-let, as well as any damage to the home itself. Read your lease and any early-termination clause before giving notice, and get any agreement to leave early in writing, including what will happen to the deposit. The certified-mail notice and inspection rights still apply.

Questions to ask your landlord before you leave

• Did you receive my certified-mail notice, and when is the inspection?
• Is there anything you want cleaned or fixed before I go?
• Does the lease require carpet cleaning, and how should it be handled?
• Where should the keys go, and who confirms the hand-back date?
• Where is the deposit held, and how will interest be calculated?

Ask by email as well as in your certified letter, so you have a dated record of the answers. A landlord who names problems before you leave gives you the chance to fix them for less than a deduction would cost.

Roommates and shared leases

A deposit belongs to the unit, not to each roommate. When several people sign one lease, the landlord usually returns one deposit, with one list of damages, after the tenancy ends. If a roommate leaves early, agree in writing how their share will be settled. Book one move-out clean for the whole home after the last person has moved out; rooms cleaned on different days rarely pass an inspection.

If your deposit isn’t returned

Start with a short, dated letter: when you left, your new address, the deposit amount and the 45-day rule. Most disputes end there. If not, the District Court of Maryland hears small claims, and a court can award up to three times the amount withheld without a reasonable basis, plus reasonable attorney’s fees. Some counties, such as Montgomery County, also have a landlord-tenant office that can help. Bring your lease, certified-mail receipts, photos and cleaning receipt.

What a move-out clean costs

Across 13 Maryland move cleans we completed in 2026, the median job total was $596, add-ons included; a 2-bedroom came to $408. Your own price is confirmed before you book. See what Maryland move-out cleans actually cost, book a move-out clean in Baltimore, or get a free quote.