Prince George's 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 Prince George's 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 Prince George's County - Small Claims

Courthouse city: Hyattsville and Upper Marlboro

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 Prince George's County

County median gross rent: $1,761 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$1,441
1 bedroom	$1,484
2 bedrooms	$1,794
3 bedrooms	$2,147
4 bedrooms	$2,421

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,794; two months is $3,588. 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 $1,794.

State legal maximum deposit in Maryland: Generally 1 month's rent ($1,794 at the example rent) per dwelling unit (for leases on or after Oct 1, 2024). Up to 2 months' rent ($3,588 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 Prince George's County: 344,586.

Renter households: 129,777 (37.7% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 4.5%. 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 Prince George's County, $1,794 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.

Berwyn Heights
Bladensburg
Bowie
Brentwood
Capitol Heights
Cheverly
College Park
Colmar Manor
Cottage City
District Heights
Eagle Harbor
Edmonston
Fairmount Heights
Forest Heights
Glenarden
Greenbelt
Hyattsville
Landover Hills
Laurel
Morningside
Mount Rainier
New Carrollton
North Brentwood
Riverdale Park
Seat Pleasant

These towns and 2 more are in Prince George's County.

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

Statewide court resources

Statewide e-filing portal

Free help in Prince George's County

Community Legal Services of Prince George's County
free legal assistance for income-eligible clients in landlord/tenant matters, plus same-day eviction representation at the Hyattsville District Courthouse
Phone: (240) 391-6370
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

We mail it, or you mail it.

$49, done for you.

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.

Write and mail my letter for $49

$29, you send it.

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.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

Get the Maryland kit for $29

Self-help document service. No account is required on Demand Letter Lab.

Free Maryland template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

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 Prince George's 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 Prince George's County - Small Claims. Courthouse city: Hyattsville and Upper Marlboro. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.