Anne Arundel County, MD Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in Anne Arundel County, MD, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Local Just Cause
- None: state law applies
- Notice to Vacate
- 60 days (month-to-month)
- Failure to Pay
- MD RP §8-401
- Court
- Anne Arundel District Court
- Self-Help
- Prohibited by §8-216
Summary
Anne Arundel County has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Tenancies follow Maryland Real Property Code §8-401 et seq., which allows tenancy-at-will terminations with 60 days' written notice and failure-to-pay summary ejectment through District Court.
§8–401.
(a) Whenever the tenant or tenants fail to pay the rent when due and payable, it shall be lawful for the landlord to have again and repossess the premises in accordance with this section.
(b) (1) Whenever any landlord shall desire to repossess any premises to which the landlord is entitled under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the landlord or the landlord's duly qualified agent or attorney shall ensure that the landlord has completed the procedures required under subsection (c) of this section.
(c) (1) Before a landlord may file a complaint under this section, the landlord shall provide to the tenant a written notice of the landlord's intent to file a claim in the District Court against the tenant to recover possession of the residential premises if the tenant does not cure within 10 days after the written notice is provided to the tenant.
(2) (i) The written notice required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be in a form created by the Maryland Judiciary and notice shall occur when the notice is:
1. Sent by first–class mail, certificate of mailing;
2. Affixed to the door of the premises; or
3. If elected by the tenant, sent by electronic delivery in at least one of the following forms:
A. An e–mail message;
B. A text message; or
C. Through an electronic tenant portal.
Full Breakdown
Anne Arundel County does not impose a local just-cause eviction requirement. Landlord-tenant relationships are governed by Maryland Real Property Code Title 8. Under §8-402, a landlord terminating a month-to-month tenancy must give 60 days' written notice. Failure-to-pay-rent actions (§8-401) are filed in Anne Arundel County District Court (Annapolis or Glen Burnie) and can be heard within days. Tenants have a right of redemption up to the date of eviction by paying rent and court costs (three defaults in 12 months can cut off redemption). Breach-of-lease and tenant-holding-over actions are available with 14–30 days' notice depending on cause. The Anne Arundel County Office of the Sheriff schedules and conducts lockouts after a warrant of restitution is issued. Annapolis (the county seat and a Critical Area community on the Chesapeake Bay) follows the same state framework with no local overlay.
Violations & Fines
Self-help evictions (lockouts, utility shutoffs, removal of belongings) are prohibited by Real Property §8-216: tenant may recover actual damages plus reasonable attorney's fees. Retaliatory evictions within six months of a protected tenant action (code complaint, rent escrow) are barred under §8-208.1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are typical penalties for violating just cause eviction rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland rental property rules overview
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