Eviction notice rules in Maryland
Nonpayment notice
10-day written Notice of Intent to File a complaint for summary ejectment, on the Maryland Judiciary's official form DC-CV-115 (Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-401(c)(1)–(2)). The notice states the amount due and gives the tenant 10 days to pay; if paid in full, the landlord cannot file. In effect statewide since October 2021. Tenant may halt the eviction at almost any stage by paying what is owed.
Lease-violation notice
30-day written breach-of-lease notice to comply (Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-402.1(a)(1)(i)2.A) where the lease allows repossession for breach; 14-day notice where the breach poses a clear and imminent danger of serious harm to a person or property (§8-402.1(a)(1)(i)2.B).
Unconditional quit (no second chance)
No unconditional-quit statute; the closest is the shortened 14-day notice for clear-and-imminent-danger breaches. Whether cure must be offered for such breaches is <em>reported — confirm with a licensed attorney</em>.
No-cause / end-of-tenancy notice
Holding-over statute (Real Prop. §8-402(c)): 60 days for month-to-month or a written lease over one week; 90 days for year-to-year (180 days for most farm tenancies); 7 days (with written lease) or 21 days (without) for week-to-week.
How the notice must be served
Notice occurs when the written notice is sent by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, affixed to the door of the premises, or — if the tenant has elected it — delivered electronically (email, text, tenant portal) (Real Prop. §8-401). Skipping the 10-day notice or filing early risks dismissal.
Your right to fix it (cure)
Nonpayment: pay in full within 10 days to stop filing; pay later to halt most stages. Breach of lease: statute says 'comply' within the notice window — landlords do NOT have to give the tenant an option to cure (unverified detail — needs attorney review).
How days are counted
Day-counting and weekend/holiday rules <em>reported — confirm with a licensed attorney</em>.
After the notice expires
Landlord files a failure-to-pay-rent complaint (summary ejectment) in District Court. Tenant does NOT have to leave when notice expires; landlord may not lock out or shut off utilities without a court order. Retaliatory eviction is separately barred.
Court timeline
Rent court dockets move fast — first hearing often within weeks of filing; tenants may raise defenses and counterclaims at trial.
Retaliation & defenses
Retaliation prohibited (Md. Code, Real Prop. §§8-208.1, 8-216); a tenant can call police and seek counsel if the landlord attempts self-help. Discrimination barred by fair housing law.
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