​​​​​​Overview

The Tenants’ Bill of Rights summarizes key renter rights and protections established by federal and state laws. The Tenants’ Bill of Rights is not a complete list of every tenant right. It does not cover every detail, exception, or difference that may apply on a case-by-case basis. A landlord may not edit or modify the Tenants’ Bill of Rights from the Maryland DHCD-published version in any way.

Under state law, landlords must attach a copy of the current Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights to every lease, beginning July 1, 2025.

Annually, DHCD will update and release a new Tenants’ Bill of Rights by September 1, with an effective date of October 1. This annual release will include major changes to federal or state renter laws in addition to updates based on feedback from tenants and housing partners.

Local Rental Laws and Ordinances: Some county, city, or township governments have established rental unit licensing requirements or additional renter protections at the local level. Additional information about these local laws and ordinances, as well as a list of local offices of tenant rights, will be posted in the near future to this webpage.

Accessibility: The Tenants’ Bill of Rights has been optimized for use of plain language and is accessible for individuals using screen readers or other assistive devices. It has also been translated into 18 languages, which are linked below. If you need another language translation or would like to request additional accessibility features, please contact otla.dhcd@maryland.gov.

Printable Versions in Multiple Languages

Renter Resources

If you are a tenant and have received notice from your landlord or the court that you are at risk of being evicted, it is important to take action right away and contact a lawyer. You have a right to defend your case in court and bring legal representation.

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Households with income below 50% of the state’s median income may be eligible for free legal services to prevent an eviction from Maryland’s Access to Counsel in Evictions Program. To find out if you are eligible and request help, call 2-1-1, visit legalhelpmd.org​, or use the QR code below to find out more.

 

Additional legal services information and providers can be found on Renters Resources​.

If you are a tenant and need to report a violation or need help navigating a landlord-tenant issue, contact otla.dhcd@maryland.gov.

If you are a housing industry professional that needs technical assistance or have questions regarding the Tenant Bill of Rights requirements, contact otla.dhcd@maryland.gov.