Maryland Allows Local Rent Control (No Statewide Preemption)

No Maryland statute limits residential rent increases statewide, and the General Assembly has not preempted local rent regulation, leaving the matter to home-rule and charter counties and municipalities. Takoma Park has run one of the state's oldest rent-stabilization programs for decades. Montgomery County enacted permanent rent stabilization in 2023 through Bill 15-23, codified in County Code Chapter 29, capping annual increases on most older units at the lesser of CPI-U + 3% or 6%. Prince George's County adopted its 2023 Rent Stabilization Act, limiting increases to the lesser of CPI-U + 3% or 6% (with a lower cap for senior housing). Outside these jurisdictions there is no percentage cap, and increases are governed only by the lease and required advance notice.

Penalties depend on the local ordinance, not state law. In Montgomery County and Prince George's County, a landlord who raises rent above the allowed cap may be ordered to roll back the rent, refund overcharges, and face county fines. Where no local rent-control law applies, there is no penalty tied to the size of an increase.