Download Maryland Eviction Notice Templates [PDF]

The eviction notice in Maryland is a letter or a form the tenant receives from the landlord, notifying them about the deadline by which they must leave the leased property. It will also contain the reasons for the eviction and, optionally, the way in which the tenant can remedy the violation and evade the eviction.

An eviction notice must be attached to the complaint form when the landlord files an eviction lawsuit with the Maryland court. The court will also require the landlord to submit proof that the tenant received the eviction notice.

Types of Eviction Notice in Maryland

The landlord can choose multiple types of eviction notices depending on the type of violation the tenant has committed and the type of lease.

Notice to Pay Rent or Quit

The tenant who fails to pay the rent before the due date can get an eviction notice from the landlord, requiring them to pay the rent within ten days or leave the property. If the tenant does neither, the landlord will initiate the eviction process before the court.

Notice for Non-Compliance

In Maryland, the landlord can evict the tenant for violating the lease agreement or the landlord-tenant law. The landlord is not required to give the tenant an option to remedy the violation and stop the eviction.

For minor violations, the landlord must give the tenant at least 30 days advance notice. 

Minor violations often include:

For major violations, the landlord must notify the tenant at least 14 days in advance. 

Major violations include:

Notice for Month-to-Month Lease Termination

If the tenant remains at the rental unit after the lease term is over (holdover tenancy) or if there is no lease term (week-to-week or month-to-month tenancy), the landlord can terminate the lease agreement without providing the specific reason for the eviction.

However, the landlord must notify the tenant about the eviction in advance. For the month-to-month lease, the landlord must notify the tenant at least 30 days before the eviction.

Eviction Laws and Requirements in Maryland

When is Rent Late in Maryland?

In Maryland, the rent is considered late right after the due date specified in the lease agreement. If there is no due date set in the lease agreement, it is the beginning of each pay period (first of the week or first of the month). 

In practice, if the rent is due on the first of the month, it is considered late on the second day of the month.

The Maryland Statute doesn’t provide a grace period for the rent payment. There are also no exceptions for weekends or public holidays.

Grounds for Eviction in Maryland

The landlord can initiate the eviction procedure in Maryland for the following reasons:

Eviction Process in Maryland

The eviction process in Maryland starts from the moment the landlord issues an eviction notice and can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 5 months, depending on the type of lease and reasons for the eviction. Below, you can see all the steps of the eviction process in Maryland.

#1. Write a Notice

The landlord first drafts an eviction notice stating the reasons for eviction and giving the tenant a certain deadline to leave the property. The landlord then serves the notice to the tenant in person, via certified mail, or by posting it in a conspicuous place at the property.

If the reason for eviction is rent non-payment, they will have a chance to pay the due rent and stop the lease. For other reasons, there is no option to remedy the violation, and the tenant must leave the property.

#2. File the Complaint

If the tenant doesn’t leave the property before the date provided in the eviction notice, the landlord can file a complaint with the local court and initiate the eviction process. 

The complaint must be filed with the appropriate district court according to the location of the property. When filing the complaint, the landlord will also be required to pay a certain filing fee, which ranges between $15 and $56.

#3. Serve the Tenant

A sheriff or constable will serve the complaint and the summons on the tenant. In this way, the tenant will be informed about the eviction process that is initiated against them as well as the date of the court hearing.

#4. Court Holds a Hearing and Issues the Judgment

For rent non-payment, the court must hold the hearing within five days from the moment the landlord files the complaint. For other reasons, the law doesn’t provide a deadline for the court hearing.

If the tenant fails to appear before the court, the court will issue a default judgment in the landlord’s favor. If both parties appear, the court will hold a hearing and make a final judgment.

If the court rules in the landlord's favor, the landlord can request that the court issue the Warrant of Restitution, which authorizes the forceful eviction of the tenant.

Other Eviction-Related Forms in Maryland

Besides the eviction notice, there are other forms the parties use in the eviction process.

Eviction Information for Landlords in Maryland

The landlord is not allowed to use any self-help methods to evict the tenant. 

The self-help methods include the following:

If the landlord uses any of the above-mentioned methods or in any other way forcefully removes the tenant from the leased unit, they will be obliged to pay damages to the tenant equal to three months' rent plus the additional attorney and court fees.

Eviction Information for Tenants in Maryland

If the tenant receives the eviction notice, they should first make sure the landlord has the appropriate reason for the eviction. Additionally, they should check if the landlord provided the option to remedy the violation and stop the eviction.

The tenant can use the following arguments to fight the eviction:

How to Write an Eviction Notice in Maryland

Maryland Eviction Notice FAQ