Residential Lease AgreementMarylandContinue ↓

Maryland Residential Lease Agreement (2026)

A complete, state-specific lease for a house, apartment or condo with every disclosure your state requires.

Updated September 2026≈ 12 minReviewed against Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 · Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208 · Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402
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Sample first page of the Residential Lease Agreement: title block and opening sections with blanks to fillView larger
What you'll get

Sample first page of the Residential Lease Agreement. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in Maryland are added automatically.

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Sample first page of the Residential Lease Agreement: title block and opening sections with blanks to fill

Sample first page of the Residential Lease Agreement. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in Maryland are added automatically.

This preview updates as you type. Blank fields show as ____ .

What this document covers

  • Parties, occupants and joint liability
  • Premises, furnishings and parking
  • Fixed or month-to-month term and holdover
  • Rent, due date, payment methods and late fees
  • Security deposit cap, holding and return deadline
  • Who pays which utilities
  • Maintenance, repairs and landlord entry notice
  • Pets, smoking, subletting and renter's insurance
  • Early termination and move-out
  • State disclosures and federal lead-paint notice

Maryland rules that this document follows

Security deposit limitone month's rentSource: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(b)(1) (HB 1117, eff. 10/1/2024)
Deposit return deadline45 days after move-outSource: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)(1)
Interest on depositRequired (see conditions)Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)(1) (simple interest at 1.5% or U.S. Treasury yield, whichever greater; deposits over $50)
Late feesMax 5% of the rent due per periodSource: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3)
Landlord entry noticeNo statutory minimum (lease governs; reasonable notice)Source: No state statute (some counties, e.g., Montgomery, require notice)
Notice to end month-to-monthLandlord 60 days / Tenant 30 daysSource: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402(b)(3)
Rent increase rulesNo statewide cap; 90 days' notice for increases on month-to-month tenancies; Montgomery County and Takoma Park have rent stabilizationSource: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-209 (as amended 2024); Montgomery County Code Ch. 29
Required disclosuresLead-Based Paint Disclosure (pre-1978 housing); Maryland Lead Risk Reduction Certificate; Owner and Agent Identification; Security Deposit Receipt and Rights; Move-In Inspection Right; Ratio Utility Billing Disclosure; Duties Regarding Utilities and RepairsSource: Maryland Code, Real Property Title 8 (Landlord and Tenant)

Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.

How to use this Residential Lease Agreement in Maryland

A residential lease in Maryland should identify every adult tenant, describe the premises, state the term, the rent and how it is paid, the security deposit and how it will be returned, who pays which utilities, the rules on pets, smoking and subletting, and the disclosures Maryland law requires. This generator walks you through each of those items in order, checks the deposit and late fee against Maryland's statutory caps, and drafts the clauses for you.

Before you start, gather: the legal names and mailing addresses of the landlord and all tenants, the property address and the number of units in the building, the move-in date, the rent amount and due day, the deposit amount and the bank where it will be held (some states require this), whether the building was built before 1978 (federal lead-paint rule), and the answers to your state's disclosure questions (for example whether the property is in a FEMA flood zone — check msc.fema.gov).

After you preview the document, download the PDF, have every adult tenant and the landlord sign (electronic signatures are valid), give each party a copy together with every attachment listed at the end of the lease, and complete a move-in inspection checklist with photos. Keep the signed lease for at least four years after the tenancy ends.

Frequently asked questions

How much security deposit can a landlord charge in Maryland?

Maryland caps the security deposit at 1 month' rent (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(b)(1)); any pet deposit and last month's rent paid in advance count toward the cap. The generator warns you if you enter more.

When must the deposit be returned in Maryland?

Within 45 days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of deductions (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)(1)).

Does this lease include the disclosures Maryland requires?

Yes. The Disclosures section asks you the yes/no questions each Maryland statute requires (for example flood zone, sprinklers, mold or bed bugs) and prints the actual statutory statement — in bold or larger type where the law demands it — with its citation, plus the federal lead-paint notice for pre-1978 buildings. Forms that must be separate documents are listed as attachments.

Is this lease legally binding once signed?

A written lease signed by landlord and all adult tenants is an enforceable contract in Maryland. Electronic signatures are valid under the federal ESIGN Act and the state UETA. No notarization is required for a residential lease.

Can I use this for a month-to-month rental?

Yes — choose 'Month-to-month' in the Term step. The tenant's notice period is set to Maryland's statutory minimum, and the landlord's notice period follows Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402(b)(3).

Other names

  • rental agreement
  • residential tenancy agreement
  • apartment lease
  • house rental contract
  • tenancy agreement
  • lease contract
  • rental contract

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FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.