Montgomery County, MD Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Montgomery County Code § 29-22
- Trigger
- Leaks in 2+ units, chronic dampness/mold
- Enforcer
- Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs
- Tenant remedy
- Repair-and-deduct up to 1 month's rent
- Scope
- Licensed rental housing only
Summary
In licensed Montgomery County rental housing, pervasive water leaks causing chronic dampness, mold, or property damage force annual inspections and a mandatory corrective action plan until fixed.
The Director must inspect, at least once each year, any rental housing which, after inspection, the Director: (1) finds in violation of any applicable law that adversely affects the immediate health and safety of the tenants, including: ... (D) pervasive and recurring water leaks that result in chronic dampness, mold growth, or personal property damage in more than one unit...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
County Code Section 29-22 makes recurring water leaks a health-and-safety violation, not a routine repair item. If an inspection finds leaks causing chronic dampness, mold growth, or property damage in more than one unit, the Department of Housing and Community Affairs must reinspect the property every year, not the standard three-year cycle, until the leak is corrected. The landlord must also submit a corrective action plan and keep implementing it under Department oversight. If the landlord still doesn't fix a cited violation after written notice, the Director can let the tenant hire a licensed contractor and deduct the repair cost, up to one month's rent, from rent owed, or move to revoke the rental license.
Violations & Fines
Annual reinspection instead of triennial; mandatory corrective action plan; tenant-authorized repair-and-deduct up to one month's rent; license revocation for uncorrected violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to my single-family home?
What if the landlord ignores a cited leak?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland water use rules overview
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