Maryland Eviction Notice Requirements (Real Property §§ 8-401, 8-402.1)

Md. Code, Real Property § 8-401 governs failure to pay rent. Before filing, "the landlord shall provide to the tenant a written notice of the landlord's intent to file a claim" allowing cure "within 10 days after the written notice is provided." If unpaid, the landlord files a summary ejectment complaint; the tenant may redeem by paying all rent, fees, and costs before eviction. For a lease-covenant breach, § 8-402.1 requires that "the landlord has given the tenant 30 days' written notice that the tenant is in violation of the lease and the landlord desires to repossess," reduced to "14 days' written notice" when the breach involves conduct posing a clear and imminent danger. The court must find the breach substantial enough to warrant eviction. Self-help eviction is not permitted; only a court-issued warrant authorizes removal.

No fixed fine; an eviction filed without the required 10-day, 14-day, or 30-day notice is subject to dismissal, and a landlord may not use self-help lockouts (Real Property §§ 8-401, 8-402.1).