Maryland (MD) eviction guide
Quick answer
To evict a tenant in Maryland, serve the correct written notice (as short as 10 days for unpaid rent), then file a Complaint for Repossession with the District Court in the county where the property sits. A hearing is typically set within 5 to 10 days of filing, and the entire process from notice to lockout usually takes 3 to 8 weeks.
| Legal grounds | Nonpayment of rent, lease violation, holding over, imminent safety threat |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 10 days (nonpayment of rent) |
| Where to file | District Court of Maryland (county where the property is located) |
| Filing fee | About $15 to $50 depending on eviction type |
| Typical timeframe | 3 to 8 weeks notice to lockout |
Tenant must pay all past-due rent or vacate within 10 days or the landlord may file in District Court.
Tenant has 30 days to fix the lease breach or leave before the landlord can file suit.
Used when the tenant poses an imminent threat to the property or other occupants; no option to cure.
Landlord must give 60 days written notice before the next rent period to end a month-to-month lease without cause.
| Step | Timeframe | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Serve the Written Notice | Day 1 | Deliver the correct notice type in writing; hand-delivery or posting on the door with mailing satisfies Maryland law. |
| 2. Wait Out the Notice Period | 10 to 60 days (varies by ground) | If the tenant pays, cures, or vacates, the process ends here; if not, you may proceed to court. |
| 3. File a Complaint in District Court | 1 to 2 days after notice expires | File Form DC-CV-082 (Complaint for Repossession) at the District Court in the county where the rental is located and pay the filing fee. |
| 4. Attend the Court Hearing | 5 to 10 days after filing | Both parties appear before a District Court judge who hears evidence and issues a judgment, often the same day. |
| 5. Request the Warrant of Restitution | No earlier than 8 business days after judgment | If the court rules in your favor, file a request for a Warrant of Restitution so the sheriff can schedule the physical lockout. |
| 6. Sheriff Carries Out the Lockout | About 1 to 2 weeks after warrant is issued | The county sheriff (not the landlord) removes the tenant; landlord must provide at least 6 days notice of the scheduled eviction date. |
Filing a failure-to-pay-rent complaint costs about $15, while a breach-of-lease complaint runs about $50; a Request for Warrant of Restitution adds roughly $10 more, plus any sheriff service fees that vary by county. Total out-of-pocket for an uncontested eviction typically falls between $50 and $150, not counting attorney fees if you hire one.
After a judgment for possession, the landlord requests a Warrant of Restitution from the District Court no sooner than 8 business days after the ruling, allowing tenants a brief window to exercise their right of redemption by paying what is owed. The county sheriff, not the landlord, physically removes the tenant on the scheduled lockout date after at least 6 days advance notice is given. Self-help eviction (changing locks, removing belongings, cutting utilities without a court order) is illegal in Maryland and exposes the landlord to civil liability.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Maryland Code, Real Property Article, Title 8 (Landlord and Tenant). Self-help eviction is illegal everywhere; always follow the court process.
Maryland eviction FAQ
Most Maryland evictions take **3 to 8 weeks** from the day you serve notice to the day the sheriff carries out the lockout. Nonpayment cases move fastest (the 10-day notice plus a hearing within about a week of filing); contested cases or those involving a 60-day notice take longer.
Court filing fees run about **$15 for nonpayment cases** and **$50 for breach-of-lease cases**, plus roughly $10 for the Warrant of Restitution and variable sheriff service fees. Total costs for an uncontested eviction typically land between **$50 and $150** before any attorney fees.
No. Maryland prohibits self-help eviction entirely. A landlord cannot remove a tenant by changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities without a court order and a sheriff escort. Every eviction must go through the **District Court**.
Yes, in nonpayment cases. Maryland gives tenants a **right of redemption**, meaning the tenant can pay all rent owed plus court costs to halt the eviction even after judgment, as long as the Warrant of Restitution has not yet been executed by the sheriff.
A landlord must give at least **60 days written notice** before the next rental period begins to terminate a month-to-month lease without cause. Tenants ending a month-to-month tenancy must give at least **60 days notice** as well under Maryland law.
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