Maryland Rent Increase Notice Requirements (Real Property § 8-209)

Md. Code, Real Property § 8-209 requires written notice before any residential rent increase: "at least 90 days in advance" for a tenancy of one month or longer, "at least 60 days in advance" for a tenancy of more than a week but less than a month, at least 7 days for a week-to-week or shorter tenancy with a written lease, and at least 21 days without a written lease. Notice must be sent by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing or by a tenant-elected electronic method. The section does not preempt stronger local protections: unincorporated Montgomery County requires 90 days regardless of term, and Takoma Park requires at least two months' notice. Before October 1, 2025, Maryland had no general statewide notice statute and relied on local ordinances.

An increase imposed without the required 90- or 60-day notice is invalid, and the tenant remains obligated only at the prior rent until proper notice is given (Real Property § 8-209).