Baltimore, MD Rental Property Rules: No-Fault Evictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Statute
- MD RP §8-401
- Right
- Cure before warrant
- Termination
- Foreman 3-in-12 judgment
- Defense Counsel
- Free under Ord. 21-0124
Summary
Baltimore's Pay-4-Stay rule, codified in Maryland Real Property Article §8-401, lets a tenant cure a failure-to-pay-rent eviction at any point before the warrant of restitution by paying owed rent and court costs.
(h) (1) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, in any action of summary ejectment for failure to pay rent where the landlord is awarded a judgment giving the landlord restitution of the leased premises, the tenant shall have the right to redemption of the leased premises by tendering in cash, certified check, or money order to the landlord or the landlord's agent all past due amounts, as determined by the court under subsection (e) of this section, plus all court awarded costs and fees, at any time before actual execution of the eviction order.
(2) An electronic or written check issued by a political subdivision or on behalf of a governmental entity shall have the same legal effect as a payment made by the tenant under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3) This subsection does not apply to any tenant against whom three judgments of possession have been entered for rent due and unpaid in the 12 months prior to the initiation of the action to which this subsection otherwise would apply.
Full Breakdown
Under MD §8-401 and Baltimore enforcement practice, tenants in Baltimore District Court rent-court may invoke the right of redemption (Pay-4-Stay) to halt eviction by tendering all owed rent, late fees permitted by lease, and accumulated court costs at any time before the sheriff executes the warrant of restitution. The right resets each tenancy unless the landlord obtains a Foreman judgment showing three failure-to-pay judgments within twelve months, in which case the redemption right is extinguished. Baltimore landlords must accept timely tendered cure amounts and dismiss the case; refusal can be raised as a defense by Right-to-Counsel attorneys.
Violations & Fines
Refusing a timely Pay-4-Stay tender exposes the landlord to dismissal, sanctions, and a habitability counterclaim by appointed counsel under Ord. 21-0124's right-to-counsel framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
Until when can I pay to stay in my Baltimore apartment?
Can I lose the right to cure?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baltimore
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