📚 Complete Reference Guide

Maryland Landlord Resource Directory

Every state agency, county portal, official form, and compliance link a Maryland landlord needs — in one place.

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Maryland State Agencies

6 agencies
Lead Paint

MDE — Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Register pre-1978 rentals, look up accredited inspectors, download certificates. Fee: $75/unit (renewed every 2 years).

MDE Rental Owner Portal → MDE Online Registration System →
⚠ Fee changed Jan 1, 2026: $30 → $75 per unit
Security Deposit & Tenant Rights

DHCD — Dept. of Housing & Community Development

Security deposit calculator, Tenants’ Bill of Rights download, landlord-tenant law summaries, and rental assistance programs.

Security Deposit Calculator → Tenants’ Bill of Rights →
⚠ Deposit cap = 1 month’s rent for leases Oct 1, 2024+
Courts & Mediation

Maryland Courts — Landlord-Tenant ADR

Free and low-cost mediation. File forms, find your District Court location, access eviction case lookup.

ADR / Mediation Services → Landlord-Tenant Legal Help →
Attorney General

MD Attorney General — Consumer Protection

File and respond to tenant complaints, review landlord rights under consumer protection law, access plain-English guides.

Landlord-Tenant Resources →
Eviction Prevention

MD HOPE — Eviction Prevention & Assistance

Landlord-tenant assistance, rental payment programs, and mediation referrals statewide.

MD HOPE Program →
Business Registration

Maryland SDAT — Property & LLC Registration

Look up property assessments, verify LLC status, register a new entity for rental business ownership.

Real Property Search → Business Entity Search →
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County & Local Compliance Portals

All 24 MD jurisdictions
Southern Maryland
DC Metro Suburbs
Anne Arundel & Baltimore Region
Central & Northern Maryland
Western Maryland
Eastern Shore
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Utility & Habitability Standards

Maryland requirements
Heat & Utilities

Minimum Heat Requirement (68°F)

Maryland law requires landlords to maintain minimum indoor temperatures of 68°F between October 1 and May 1. Failure is a habitability violation — not just a complaint.

DHCD Habitability Standards →
⚠ Applies even if lease says tenant pays utilities — heat must be available
Habitability

Implied Warranty of Habitability

Every Maryland rental lease includes an implied warranty that the unit is fit for human habitation. Violations allow tenants to withhold rent, repair-and-deduct, or terminate the lease.

MD Courts Landlord-Tenant Help →
Code Enforcement

Local Code Enforcement Contacts

Habitability complaints are investigated at the county level. Find your county code enforcement office to respond to complaints proactively — or to report conditions at a property you purchased.

MDE County Contacts → MD Courts Help →
Lead Paint

Lead Paint as a Habitability Issue

Lead hazards in pre-1978 housing are a habitability violation under Maryland law, not just a licensing issue. Failure to remediate is grounds for rent escrow and civil penalty.

MDE Lead Program →
⚠ Tenant can petition court to escrow rent if lead hazard is not remediated
Mold & Water

Mold & Water Damage

Maryland does not have a standalone mold statute, but mold caused by landlord failure to maintain the premises (roof leaks, plumbing) is a habitability violation. Document all repairs.

EPA Mold Guidance → DHCD Tenant-Landlord Affairs →
Smoke & CO

Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Maryland requires working smoke detectors on every level of a rental unit and outside each sleeping area. CO detectors required in any unit with fuel-burning appliances or attached garage.

MD State Fire Marshal →
⚠ Landlord must install — tenant is responsible for battery maintenance only
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Tax Resources for Landlords

Government sources only
⚠ Not tax advice. These are official government resources only. Consult a licensed CPA for your specific situation.
Federal — Rental Income

IRS Schedule E & Publication 527

Schedule E is how rental income and expenses are reported on your federal return. IRS Publication 527 covers residential rental property in full: depreciation, repairs vs. improvements, passive loss rules, and vacation home rules.

IRS Schedule E → IRS Publication 527 (PDF) →
Federal — Depreciation

IRS Publication 946 — Depreciation

Residential rental property depreciates over 27.5 years using straight-line method. Pub 946 covers MACRS depreciation, Section 179, bonus depreciation, and how to handle property improvements vs. repairs.

IRS Publication 946 (PDF) →
Maryland — Rental Income

MD Comptroller — Rental Income Filing

Maryland taxes rental income at the state level. The MD Comptroller’s office provides guidance on how rental income flows from your federal return to MD Form 502, and county piggyback taxes.

MD Comptroller Individual Tax → MD Individual Tax Forms →
Maryland — Property Tax

MD Property Tax Credits & SDAT

SDAT manages property assessments statewide. Landlords may qualify for the Homeowner’s Property Tax Credit on owner-occupied rentals, and should monitor triennial reassessment notices to verify accuracy.

SDAT Property Search → MD Property Tax Credits →
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Forms & Official Downloads

Required documents
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Tenants’ Bill of Rights Download from DHCD →
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EPA Lead Paint Brochure Download from EPA →
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Notice of Tenants Rights (Lead) Download from MDE →
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Failure to Pay Rent (District Court) DC/CV 082 Form →
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Complaint for Breach of Lease DC/CV 085 Form →
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Security Deposit Return Calculator DHCD Calculator →
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Wrongful Detainer Complaint DC/CV 084 Form →
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ADR Mediation Request (Landlord-Tenant) MD Courts ADR →
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Warrant of Restitution DC/CV 083 Form →
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Hotlines & Emergency Contacts

Lead Paint

MDE Lead Program

Registration, inspector questions, compliance emergencies.

410-537-4199 1-800-776-2706 (MD toll-free)
Mediation

MD Courts ADR Unit

Schedule mediation, get referrals, pre-filing assistance.

410-260-1676 1-866-940-1729 (toll-free) 855-826-2909 (Spanish)
Tenant Assistance

MD HOPE Hotline

Eviction prevention, rental payment assistance referrals statewide.

1-877-MDHELP4U (1-877-862-4648)
Coaching

Christine Pollard — Rental911

Not sure what applies to your situation? Book a free coaching call and get a direct answer.

Book Free Coaching Call →

Laws changed. Are your leases up to date?

Book a free coaching call and Christine will review your specific situation — your county, your property type, and your current lease — so you know exactly where you stand.

Book A FREE Coaching Session →