Subtitle 7 – Residential Lease Requirements
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 7-1 (2026)
§ 7-1 In general.LinkCopy Citation
After August 1, 1981, any landlord who rents dwelling units by means of written leases shall comply with the following requirements.
History: Ord. 81-290
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 7-2 (2026)
§ 7-2 Copy of lease to tenant.LinkCopy Citation
A copy of the lease, signed by tenant and landlord, shall be given to tenant at the time of signing of the lease.
History: Ord. 81-290
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 7-3 (2026)
§ 7-3 Information required.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
(1)
Each residential lease must contain the following information:
(i)
the name, residence address, and residence telephone number or the name, business address, and business telephone number of the owner of the property, or
(ii)
the name, residence address, and residence telephone number or the name, business address, and business telephone number of an agent of the owner who is authorized to receive court process on behalf of the owner in connection with the property.
(2)
Any owner who is not customarily present in an office in the metropolitan Baltimore area must include in the lease the information required above for an agent authorized to receive court process on behalf of the owner.
(a-1)Payment for water and wastewater services.
(1)
Any property owner or managing operator who requires that a tenant pay the costs of water or wastewater services, whether directly to the Department of Public Works or as reimbursement to the owner or managing operator, shall include that requirement in an express provision of a written lease.
(2)
The lease shall include a provision that the landlord makes the tenant a designee under Maryland’s Public Information Act to request and to receive copies of any account records for the water or wastewater account at issue.
(3)
Whenever a landlord requires the tenant to reimburse the landlord for allocated costs of water or wastewater service, the lease required by this subsection shall also:
(i)
describe the calculation method used by the owner or owner’s agent to allocate the cost of water and wastewater services to the tenant; and
(ii)
specify the average monthly allocated costs of water and wastewater services for the leased dwelling unit or rooming unit in the 12 months preceding execution of the lease or renewal of the lease.
(a-2)Late fees.
(1)“Government benefit” defined.
In this subsection, “government benefit” means:
(i)
temporary cash assistance or other assistance described in Title 5 of the State Human Services Article;
(ii)
supplemental security income;
(iii)
social security disability income;
(iv)
unemployment insurance benefits;
(v)
Veteran’s Administration benefits;
(vi)
social security benefits; or
(vii)
assistance from any other similar federal, state, or City government benefits program.
(2)Scope of subsection.
This subsection does not apply to leases for public housing administered by the Housing Authority of Baltimore City.
(3)In general.
A residential lease shall include a provision that the landlord may not apply late fees to the rent until the tenant is more than 10 days past due with the rent.
(4)Additional late fee provisions.
In addition, a residential lease that includes a provision permitting a landlord to apply a penalty for the late payment of rent must include a provision that prohibits a landlord from applying a penalty fee for late payment of rent until:
(i)
the tenant’s payment of the rent is more than 10 days late; or
(ii)
the tenant has received the tenant’s regularly scheduled government benefit disbursement if the tenant has previously provided the landlord with written notice that shows the day of the month the government benefit is normally issued or mailed is later than the day on which the rent is due.
(b)Changes.
(1)
Within 10 days of a change in any information required by subsection (a) of this section to be contained in a lease, the property owner must notify the tenant of the change.
(2)
The notice must be sent to the tenant by first class mail.
(c)Additional required disclosures.
(1)
Along with the copy of the lease required to be given to the tenant by <cite data-path="|13|§7-2">§ 7-2 of this subtitle</cite>, the tenant must be given a copy of a tenants rights brochure approved by the Housing Commissioner that discusses:
(i)
free or reduced price legal representation available to tenants;
(ii)
pre-trial and day of trial mediation programs available to resolve landlord-tenant disputes; and
(iii)
a tenant’s right to know the amount of rent that is in arrears.
(2)
A tenant must also be given a copy of the brochure required by paragraph (1) of this subsection:
(i)
at the time that a lawsuit is commenced by the owner or landlord against the tenant;
(ii)
if the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office is used to serve a summons and complaint by the landlord seeking eviction, including for summary ejectment, tenant holding over, or breach of lease, at the time that the summons and complaint are served on the tenant; and
(iii)
at the time that the Housing Authority of Baltimore City sends a notice to terminate a tenant’s subsidy or tenancy.
History: Ord. 81-290
History: Ord. 02-475
History: Ord. 13-175
History: Ord. 18-137
History: Ord. 19-332
History: Ord. 20-336
History: Ord. 20-465
History: Ord. 21-014
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 7-4 (2026)
§ 7-4 Exemptions.LinkCopy Citation
The provisions of this subtitle do not apply to the following:
(1)
rental units in hotels, motels, inns, tourist homes and rooming and boarding houses which are rented primarily to transient guests for a period of less than 14 days, and
(2)
rental units in any hospital, convent, monastery, extended medical care facility, asylum, non-profit home for the aged, or dormitory owned and operated by an institution of higher education, and
(3)
individual rental units which a government unit, agency, or authority owns, operates, or manages, and
(4)
rental units within the premises occupied by the owner as his residence.
History: Ord. 81-290
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 7-5 (2026)
§ 7-5 Responsibility for compliance.LinkCopy Citation
The owner of the property has primary responsibility for compliance with the provisions of this subtitle.
History: Ord. 81-290
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Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 7-6 (2026)
§ 7-6 Enforcement by tenant.LinkCopy Citation
A tenant may seek relief from an appropriate court to restrain or enjoin any violation of the provisions of this subtitle.
History: Ord. 81-290
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 7-7 (2026)
§ 7-7 Penalties.LinkCopy Citation
Any property owner or landlord who leases residential property under a written lease which does not conform to the provisions of this subtitle, or who fails to give a tenant a copy of the lease as provided in <cite data-path="|13|§7-2">§ 7-2 of this subtitle</cite> and the tenants rights brochure as provided in <cite data-path="|13|§7-3|(c)">§ 7-3(c) of this subtitle</cite>, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine of up to $100 for each violation.
History: Ord. 81-290
History: Ord. 18-137
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