Montgomery County, Maryland: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $5,000 (District Court small claims only). E-filing: Yes. Court: District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County - Small Claims. Statewide filing fee: $44 for a new small-claims complaint, effective March 1, 2026; service is extra.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$5,000 (District Court small claims only)
Statewide filing fee	$44 for a new small-claims complaint, effective March 1, 2026; service is extra
E-filing	Yes
Time limit to sue in Maryland	2 years.
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. 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.
Penalty formula	up to threefold the amount withheld without a reasonable basis, plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 8-203(e)(4)); separately, if the itemized list of damages is not mailed within 45 days the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages (§ 8-203(g)(2)), and in the eviction or abandonment case a landlord who does not return the deposit after the tenant's demand faces up to threefold of the withheld amount plus attorney's fees (§ 8-203(h)(3)(ii)); the 'without a reasonable basis' condition appears only in (e)(4). Bad faith required: Yes.
Deposit statute	Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-203

Where to file

District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County - Small Claims

Courthouse city: Rockville and Silver Spring

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.

Official court website

Court page check not recorded

See how to file in Maryland for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Montgomery County

County median gross rent: $2,030 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$1,636
1 bedroom	$1,800
2 bedrooms	$2,055
3 bedrooms	$2,449
4 bedrooms	$3,104

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $2,055; two months is $4,110. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $2,055.

State legal maximum deposit in Maryland: Generally 1 month's rent ($2,055 at the example rent) per dwelling unit (for leases on or after Oct 1, 2024). Up to 2 months' rent ($4,110 at the example rent) if tenant qualifies for DHS utility assistance, lease requires utility payments to landlord, and parties agree in writing to that amount. Excess over cap: tenant may recover up to 3x the extra amount charged plus attorney's fees.

Total households in Montgomery County: 387,881.

Renter households: 134,433 (34.7% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 4.3%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Montgomery County, $2,055 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $5,000 (District Court small claims only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Barnesville
Brookeville
Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase Section Five
Chevy Chase Section Three
Chevy Chase View
Chevy Chase Village
Gaithersburg
Garrett Park
Glen Echo
Kensington
Laytonsville
Martin's Additions
North Chevy Chase
Poolesville
Rockville
Somerset
Takoma Park
Washington Grove

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

Courthouse details

Address: 191 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20850-2630

Phone: 301-563-8800

Hours: 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday (except legal holidays)

Statewide e-filing portal

Address and phone checked against the court's own page on 2026-09-21

Court contact source

Free help in Montgomery County

Housing Initiative Partnership
HUD-approved bilingual rental counseling and eviction-prevention help, including landlord issues, fair housing complaints, budgets, and rental search
Phone: (301) 699-3835

Statewide help

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
Phone: (888) 465-2468

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Maryland security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 45 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Maryland: 2 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Maryland law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

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A print-ready PDF of the Maryland letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Maryland small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

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I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Maryland law (Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-203), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 45 calendar days after the end of the tenancy / termination of the tenancy.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Montgomery County?

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

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Maryland: 2 years.

Where do I file?

District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County - Small Claims. Courthouse city: Rockville and Silver Spring. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.