Maryland notice to vacate: 60 days for landlords, 30 for tenants, 10 for unpaid rent
In Maryland, a landlord ends a month-to-month tenancy or a lease with 60 days' written notice (Md. Code, Real Property, section 8-402(c)(2)(i)). A tenant gives 30 days (section 8-402(c)(3)). Before filing for unpaid rent, the landlord gives the tenant 10 days' written notice on the Maryland Judiciary's form (section 8-401(c)).
Which Maryland notice applies?
| Situation | Notice | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord ends a month-to-month tenancy or a lease | 60 days, written | 8-402(c)(2)(i) |
| Tenant ends a month-to-month tenancy | 30 days | 8-402(c)(3) |
| Landlord wants to file for unpaid rent | 10 days, written, on the Judiciary's form | 8-401(c) |
The numbers come from DoorKeeping's Maryland rules file, which cites the official text on the Maryland General Assembly site. The longer landlord period is a notable difference from states that use one month for both sides.
How does the 60-day landlord notice work?
Give the notice in writing and state the date the tenancy will end. Count the full 60 days after the notice is delivered, not from the date you sign it, and add a margin. If the end date lands in the middle of a rent period, say whether you will prorate rent in the notice so the tenant is not surprised.
Example a made-up landlord delivers a written notice on August 1 to end a month-to-month tenancy. Sixty days later is September 30. A move-out date of September 30 works; a date of September 15 does not, because it is only 45 days away.
What if the tenant gives 30 days?
A tenant's 30 days' notice lets the landlord recover possession without any notice of its own, according to DoorKeeping's file, which notes that this does not apply in Baltimore City. In practice, answer a tenant's notice with a short acknowledgement stating the end date and the move-out inspection date. See how much notice a tenant must give.
How do I serve the 10-day notice for unpaid rent?
Use the Maryland Judiciary's form for the notice. Section 8-401(c) lets you deliver it by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, by posting it on the door, or electronically if the tenant chose to receive notices that way. Whichever you use, keep proof.
- Pull the ledger and confirm the amount of unpaid rent.
- Complete the Judiciary's notice form with that amount and the dates.
- Deliver it in one of the three permitted ways and keep proof of when.
- Wait out the 10 days, then decide whether to file. Do not enter, lock out or remove belongings.
Maryland also limits late fees to 5 percent of the rent (section 8-208(d)(3)); see Maryland's late fee law before you add a fee to what you demand.
What happens to the deposit?
Once the tenant is out, the deposit clock runs. Maryland's return deadline and rules for the list of deductions are in Maryland security deposit laws.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Counting from the day you signed the notice instead of the day it was delivered. Count from delivery and add a day of room.
- Using your own wording for the unpaid rent notice instead of the Judiciary's form.
- Writing a wrong or inflated amount. Pull it from the ledger each time.
- Giving a tenant 30 days when the landlord side is 60, or the other way around. The two sides differ here.
- Taking action yourself, such as a lockout, while a notice is running.
Keep a copy of every notice and proof of delivery in the unit's documents. If a case is filed, those papers and the ledger are what you bring.
How DoorKeeping handles it
DoorKeeping keeps the ledger for each unit, the lease with the unit, messages to the tenant in its message history, and keeps late fees within the state cap. It does not serve notices or file cases. DoorKeeping gives general information, not legal advice. Laws change and cities can add rules, so check the current law for your state and your property before you act, and talk to a local attorney if a case is contested.
Sources
- Maryland Code, Real Property, section 8-402, termination of tenancies, read Oct 30, 2026
- Maryland Code, Real Property, section 8-401, failure to pay rent, read Oct 30, 2026
- Maryland Code, Real Property, section 8-208, lease terms and late fees, read Oct 30, 2026
Questions
- How much notice does a Maryland landlord give to end a month-to-month tenancy?
- Sixty days' written notice (Md. Code, Real Property, section 8-402(c)(2)(i)).
- How much notice does a Maryland tenant give?
- Thirty days (section 8-402(c)(3)).
- How long is the notice for unpaid rent in Maryland?
- Ten days' written notice on the Maryland Judiciary's form before filing (section 8-401(c)).
- How can the 10-day notice be delivered?
- By first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, by posting on the door, or electronically if the tenant chose that.