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.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Baltimore, MD
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Baltimore, MD
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Baltimore, MD
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Baltimore, MD
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See how Baltimore's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
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