Baltimore County, Maryland: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County - Small Claims in Catonsville and Towson. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: see the fee table. Claims up to $5,000. Maryland return time: 45 calendar days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,353. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County - Small Claims
City	Catonsville and Towson
Address	120 E. Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, MD 21286-5307
Phone	410-512-2000
Hours	8:30 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday (except legal holidays)
Statewide filing fee	$44 for a new small-claims complaint, effective March 1, 2026; service is extra
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
Small claims limit	$5,000 (District Court small claims only)
State deposit return deadline	45 calendar days after the end of the tenancy / termination of the tenancy. 45 calendar days after landlord's receipt of tenant's written demand by first-class mail. Applies when: 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.
Time limit to sue	2 years
Deposit statute	Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-203

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $5,000 (District Court small claims only).

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Details of the return rules

Maryland statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
No, I left normally when my tenancy ended	45 days	after the end of the tenancy / termination of the tenancy
Yes, I was evicted for breaking the lease, or I abandoned the home	45 days	after landlord's receipt of tenant's written demand by first-class mail

Maryland return rule: 45 calendar days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County - Small Claims. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Baltimore County.
The Maryland business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

Listed filing or service charges: $44 for a new small-claims complaint, effective March 1, 2026; service is extra

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Check the Maryland filing procedure before you go.

Court forms

Service methods: certified mail by clerk; constable or sheriff; private process server.

Procedure source (high confidence): Complaint in Small Claims Actions: Contract - Tort (new suit) ............................................................. $44.00

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Baltimore County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$1,073	$2,146	$3,219	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$1,353	$2,706	$4,059	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,555	$3,110	$4,665	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,608	$3,216	$4,824	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Baltimore County compare with other Maryland counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,353: rank 12 of 24 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 52.5% of households rent in Baltimore County.

Baltimore County two-bedroom rent $1,353, rank 12 of 24 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Carroll County	$1,414
Baltimore City	$1,353
Baltimore County	$1,353
Cecil County	$1,303
Wicomico County	$1,209
Talbot County	$1,187

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 24 of 24 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Baltimore County

Baltimore

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service: free civil legal representation for limited-income Marylanders, including landlord/tenant disputes and security deposit returns (the organization does not handle failure-to-pay-rent eviction cases because of their urgency)
Maryland Legal Aid: free civil legal help for low-income renters, including eviction defense through the Tenant Right to Counsel Project, dangerous housing conditions, subsidized and public housing disputes, and other landlord-tenant problems

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Baltimore County?

Statewide filing fee: $44 for a new small-claims complaint, effective March 1, 2026; service is extra.

Where do I file a deposit claim in Baltimore County?

District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County - Small Claims is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.