Deposit return deadline · Maryland
Maryland: return the deposit within 45 days
In Maryland, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit — or account for what's being kept — within 45 days after the tenancy ends. The rule is Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203.
Deducting? The paperwork rules
A written list of the damages claimed plus an itemized statement of the actual costs, sent by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address within the same 45 days. Miss that window and you forfeit the right to withhold anything at all — the whole deposit becomes due.
The clean way to do this is a written letter with the deduction list and the ledger behind it — the deposit return letter template produces one, and a current rent ledger is the difference between documenting and reconstructing.
What missing the deadline costs
Withhold without following the statute and the tenant can recover up to three times the amount withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees.
Three things most guides get wrong now: the deposit cap is ONE month's rent for any lease signed on or after October 1, 2024 (it used to be two); the deposit earns simple interest at the greater of 1.5% a year or the one-year Treasury yield on any tenancy over six months; and a tenant can ask in writing to attend the move-out inspection.
Never discover this deadline late
The return clock starts the day the tenancy ends — which means it's knowable weeks in advance. A free RentChime account tracks your lease dates and emails you before deadlines like this one arrive.
Not legal advice. This is a summary for general information, not legal advice. The statute linked above is the authority; cities can add stricter rules, and laws change. If a deposit is disputed, talk to a local attorney.
Common questions
When does the 45-day clock start?
Generally when the tenancy ends and the tenant has moved out. The statute linked above defines the trigger precisely.
Can I deduct for normal wear and tear?
No state allows deductions for ordinary wear and tear — deductions are for damage beyond it, unpaid rent, and other charges the lease and statute allow, itemized in writing.
What if I miss the deadline in good faith?
Penalties generally attach to bad-faith withholding, but missing the deadline can forfeit your right to keep any of the deposit even without bad faith. The safe play is the letter, itemized, on time.