How Long Does a Landlord Have to Return a Deposit in Maryland?
In Maryland, a landlord has 45 calendar days or 45 calendar days (tenant was evicted or ejected for lease breach, or abandoned the premises, before termination of tenancy; ordinary 45-day return rules of (e) and (g) do not apply until tenant demands return and gives new address) to return a security deposit. The deadline is measured from this trigger: 45 calendar days: after the end of the tenancy / termination of the tenancy; 45 calendar days (tenant was evicted or ejected for lease breach, or abandoned the premises, before termination of tenancy; ordinary 45-day return rules of (e) and (g) do not apply until tenant demands return and gives new address): after landlord's receipt of tenant's written demand by first-class mail. The verified penalty formula is up to threefold the amount wrongfully withheld (without a reasonable basis), plus reasonable attorney's fees; separate forfeiture of right to withhold for damages if itemized list not mailed within 45 days under Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-203.
Key facts
| Deadline | 45 calendar days; trigger: after the end of the tenancy / termination of the tenancy |
|---|---|
| Deadline (branch 2) | 45 calendar days (tenant was evicted or ejected for lease breach, or abandoned the premises, before termination of tenancy; ordinary 45-day return rules of (e) and (g) do not apply until tenant demands return and gives new address); trigger: after landlord's receipt of tenant's written demand by first-class mail |
| Penalty formula | up to threefold the amount wrongfully withheld (without a reasonable basis), plus reasonable attorney's fees; separate forfeiture of right to withhold for damages if itemized list not mailed within 45 days |
| Bad faith required | Yes |
| Statute citation | Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-203 |
Statute says
Within 45 days after the end of the tenancy, the landlord shall return the security deposit to the tenant together with simple interest which has accrued at the daily U.S. Treasury yield curve rate for 1 year, as of the first business day of each year, or 1.5% a year, whichever is greater, less any damages rightfully withheld. If the landlord, without a reasonable basis, fails to return any part of the security deposit, plus accrued interest, within 45 days after the termination of the tenancy, the tenant has an action of up to threefold of the withheld amount, plus reasonable attorney's fees.
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together. Match the date you can prove to the trigger above, then compare the landlord's response to the rule in Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-203.
FAQ
Does Baltimore have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Maryland law and local rules.
What happens if a landlord misses the Maryland deposit deadline?
The verified penalty formula is up to threefold the amount wrongfully withheld (without a reasonable basis), plus reasonable attorney's fees; separate forfeiture of right to withhold for damages if itemized list not mailed within 45 days under Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-203. Keep the move-out date, forwarding address records, and any itemized statement before you act.
Does a demand letter change the legal deadline?
No. The deadline is still 45 calendar days or 45 calendar days (tenant was evicted or ejected for lease breach, or abandoned the premises, before termination of tenancy; ordinary 45-day return rules of (e) and (g) do not apply until tenant demands return and gives new address). The deadline trigger is 45 calendar days: after the end of the tenancy / termination of the tenancy; 45 calendar days (tenant was evicted or ejected for lease breach, or abandoned the premises, before termination of tenancy; ordinary 45-day return rules of (e) and (g) do not apply until tenant demands return and gives new address): after landlord's receipt of tenant's written demand by first-class mail. A letter documents the timeline and asks the landlord to resolve the deposit before the next step.
If the deadline passed
Send the letter that starts the clock and keeps the demand tied to the verified Maryland deadline.
build a Maryland demand letter
If the landlord stays silent, review landlord ignoring the deadline before choosing the next step.