Maryland Real Property Article §8-208 strictly preempts local rent control and rent stabilization by Baltimore and other municipalities, leaving landlords free to set and pass through market-rate increases at lease renewal.
MD §8-208 is a long-standing strong preemption: Baltimore cannot enact rent caps, vacancy decontrol limits, or pass-through-charge restrictions on private rental housing. Landlords may pass through utility, insurance, property-tax, and capital-improvement increases via standard lease terms at renewal, subject only to the lease's own escalation clauses and the general anti-discrimination and habitability laws. Tenant advocates have pushed for repeal, but as of 2026 the preemption remains in force. Baltimore's housing-affordability levers therefore center on rental licensing, the Tenant Right to Counsel, Inclusionary Housing Ord. 23-0237, and the Vacants-To-Value land bank rather than direct rent regulation.
Because Baltimore lacks rent-control authority, pass-through disputes are litigated as breach-of-lease or consumer-protection claims rather than rent-board appeals; remedies are contract damages.
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Ordinance 23-0237 (2023) requires 5%-15% affordable units in qualifying new residential developments. The city uses inclusionary zoning rather than...
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore does not have rent control or rent stabilization laws. Maryland state law does not preempt local rent control, but Baltimore has not enacted such o...
See how Baltimore's pass-through charges rules stack up against other locations.
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