Maryland landlords have 45 days to return your security deposit. Learn what happens if they miss the deadline and how to recover what you're owed.
Analyze My Maryland Claim (Free)Law verified March 11, 2026
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Check My DepositUnder Md. Real Prop. Code §8-203, your Maryland landlord has 45 days to return your security deposit from the date you move out. This deadline applies regardless of whether your landlord believes deductions are owed. If they want to make deductions, they must still respond within this window with an itemized written statement.
The 45-day clock starts on your move-out date.
Note: Maryland's deposit return rules have some case-by-case complexity. The deadline and penalty rules above represent the general standard under Md. Real Prop. Code §8-203, but specific circumstances, such as disputed move-out dates, lease terms, or property type, may affect your claim. Our free analysis accounts for these variables.
Deadline
Under Md. Real Prop. Code §8-203, your Maryland landlord has 45 days to return your security deposit from the date you move out. This deadline applies regardless of whether your landlord believes deductions are owed. If they want to make deductions, they must still respond within this window with an itemized written statement.
The 45-day clock starts on your move-out date.
Complexity note: Note: Maryland's deposit return rules have some case-by-case complexity. The deadline and penalty rules above represent the general standard under Md. Real Prop. Code §8-203, but specific circumstances, such as disputed move-out dates, lease terms, or property type, may affect your claim. Our free analysis accounts for these variables.
Missing the 45-day deadline under Md. Real Prop. Code §8-203 exposes your landlord to a penalty of up to 3x the deposit amount wrongfully withheld when bad faith is shown. This multiplier applies on top of the deposit itself.
The statute of limitations to file a claim in Maryland is 3 years from the date of the violation. Do not delay. Document everything and act promptly.
Questions
Your Maryland landlord has 45 days after your move-out date to return your security deposit along with an itemized statement of any deductions. This deadline is set by Md. Real Prop. Code §8-203.
If your landlord misses the 45-day deadline, you may be entitled to up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld under Md. Real Prop. Code §8-203(e)(4). The penalty applies when your landlord acted in bad faith.
No. Maryland law under Md. Real Prop. Code §8-203 explicitly prohibits landlords from deducting for normal wear and tear. This includes faded paint, minor scuffs, small nail holes, and carpet thinning from regular use. Deductions must be for actual damage beyond what normal living causes.
The 45-day clock starts on your move-out date under Md. Real Prop. Code §8-203. Your landlord must return the full deposit or a partial amount with an itemized statement within this window.
The 45-day deadline under Md. Real Prop. Code §8-203 is generally calculated as calendar days, including weekends and holidays. If the final day falls on a weekend or court holiday, some courts may extend to the next business day, but it is safest to treat the deadline as calendar days.
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