Maryland Security Deposit Law Explained
Here's what Maryland security deposit law actually means in plain English - what matters, what does not, and how it plays out in real situations.
The basics
In Maryland, security deposit rules are built around a few key ideas:
- there is a 45-day timeline for return and accounting
- required interest can matter
- the written damages list and itemized costs matter if money is withheld
- ordinary wear and tear is not deductible
- documentation matters more than arguments
If you understand those pieces, you understand most deposit disputes.
The 45-day rule
In general, a landlord must return your deposit plus required interest within 45 days after the end of the tenancy.
If money is withheld, the landlord generally must send a written list of damages together with an itemized statement of costs within that same period.
This deadline is one of the strongest protections tenants have. The practical record is the tenancy-end date, possession or move-out proof, deposit amount, required-interest issue, written damages list, itemized costs, deduction issue, and amount owed.
Deductions are limited
A landlord cannot just keep part of the deposit without tying it to a valid category.
Under the approved Maryland source used on this site, deductions are tied to:
- unpaid rent
- damage due to breach of lease
- damage caused by the tenant side in excess of ordinary wear and tear
If money is withheld, the landlord also needs the required written list and itemized costs. Missing or late paperwork can strip the landlord of the right to withhold for damages.
Ordinary wear and tear still matters
The approved Maryland source used on this site is explicit that ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
That is why the practical question is usually whether the charge is real deductible damage or just ordinary use being relabeled.
What strengthens your position
Most deposit issues are not decided by who argues better.
They come down to:
- clear timelines
- written communication
- photos and documentation
- records showing whether interest and itemized costs were handled correctly
If the facts are clear and documented, the situation usually becomes easier to resolve.
Other Maryland protections
The approved Maryland source used on this site also includes:
- a one-month general cap, with a limited utility-assistance exception that can allow up to two months
- a required receipt that may be included in the lease
- a rule that the deposit generally must be placed into a qualifying Maryland-based account within 30 days
Those rules do not appear in every dispute, but they are part of the legal structure.
If the rules are not followed
If a landlord misses the deadline or does not send the required written list and itemized costs, your position may become significantly stronger.
If the landlord keeps Maryland deposit money without a reasonable basis after the 45-day rule, you could seek up to three times the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney's fees. That is leverage, but the facts and the amount wrongfully withheld still matter.
Plain English vs. the actual law
This page is designed to explain how the rules work in practice.
If you want to see the cited statute sections and the source-based version, you can review them here:
How this fits together
Most situations follow a simple pattern:
- understand the rules
- compare what happened to what is allowed
- document your position
- take the next step if needed
The pages below walk through each part of that process.
Important: This page provides general educational information and is not legal advice.