Maryland's HOME Act (Real Property §20-705) and Baltimore's Civil Rights Code prohibit landlords from refusing applicants because they pay rent with Section 8 vouchers, SSI, veterans benefits, or other lawful sources of income.
The Maryland HOME Act, codified at MD Real Property §20-705, took effect in 2020 and adds source of income to the protected classes for housing. Combined with Baltimore Code Article 4 (Civil Rights), it bars landlords from declining applicants based on Housing Choice Vouchers, SSI, SSDI, VA benefits, or child-support payments. Baltimore's Office of Equity and Civil Rights investigates complaints and may issue conciliation agreements, civil penalties, and damages. Bona-fide minimum-income screens are still permitted but must be applied to the voucher portion only, not the full contract rent, eliminating the historical loophole used to reject voucher holders.
Refusing to rent to a voucher holder, advertising 'no Section 8,' or screening on full rent rather than the tenant share triggers Civil Rights Commission action, damages, and civil penalties up to $5,000.
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Ord. 21-0124, the Tenant Right to Counsel Ordinance enacted in 2021, guarantees free legal representation in eviction proceedings to income-eligibl...
Baltimore, MD
The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) administers Housing Choice Vouchers under federal HUD rules, paying contract rent directly to landlords while ...
See how Baltimore's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.