Courts and Judicial Proceedings (GCJ) — Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Subtitle 1. Definitions
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-101 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 1. Definitions
§ 4–101LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this title the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Criminal case” means a criminal case within the jurisdiction of the District Court and includes a case charging a violation of motor vehicle or traffic laws and a case charging a violation of a law, rule, or regulation if a fine or imprisonment may be imposed.
Subtitle 2. Jurisdiction in General
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-201 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 2. Jurisdiction in General
§ 4–201LinkCopy Citation
The jurisdiction of the District Court extends to every case which arises within the State or is subject to the State’s judicial power, and which is within the limitations imposed by this title or elsewhere by law. Exercise of this jurisdiction is subject to the restrictions of venue established by law.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-202 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 2. Jurisdiction in General
§ 4–202LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A District Court has the authority provided under Title 3 of the Criminal Procedure Article.
(b)
A District Court has the following authority provided in the Health – General Article:
(1)
Under Title 8 of that article, the authority to commit an individual for detoxification or for observation, evaluation, or treatment of alcoholism;
(2)
Under Title 8 of that article, the authority to commit an individual for observation, evaluation, or treatment of drug abuse; and
(3)
Under Title 10 of that article, the authority to order emergency evaluation of an individual for a mental disorder.
Subtitle 3. Criminal Jurisdiction
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-301 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 3. Criminal Jurisdiction
§ 4–301LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as provided in §§ 3–803 and 3–8A–03 of this article and 4–302 of this subtitle, the District Court has exclusive original jurisdiction in a criminal case in which a person at least 16 years old or a corporation is charged with violation of the vehicle laws, or the State Boat Act, or regulations adopted pursuant to the vehicle laws or State Boat Act.
(b)
Except as provided in § 4–302 of this subtitle, the District Court also has exclusive original jurisdiction in a criminal case in which a person at least 18 years old or a corporation is charged with:
(1)
Commission of a common–law or statutory misdemeanor regardless of the amount of money or value of the property involved;
(2)
Violation of § 7–104, § 7–105, § 7–107, or § 7–108 of the Criminal Law Article, whether a felony or a misdemeanor;
(3)
Violation of a county, municipal, or other ordinance, if the violation is not a felony;
(4)
Criminal violation of a State, county, or municipal rule or regulation, if the violation is not a felony;
(5)
Doing or omitting to do any act made punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or other penalty as provided by the particular law, ordinance, rule, or regulation defining the violation if the violation is not a felony;
(6)
Violation of § 8–103 of the Criminal Law Article, whether a felony or a misdemeanor;
(7)
Violation of § 8–203, § 8–204, § 8–205, § 8–206, § 8–207, § 8–208, or § 8–209 of the Criminal Law Article, whether a felony or misdemeanor;
(8)
Forgery or violation of Title 8, Subtitle 6 of the Criminal Law Article, whether a felony or misdemeanor;
(9)
Violation of Title 27, Subtitle 4 of the Insurance Article, whether a felony or a misdemeanor;
(10)
Violation of § 9–1106 of the Labor and Employment Article;
(11)
Violation of § 8–301 of the Criminal Law Article, whether a felony or misdemeanor;
(12)
Violation of § 2–209 of the Criminal Law Article;
(13)
Violation of Title 2, Subtitle 5 of the Criminal Law Article;
(14)
Violation of Title 11, Subtitle 5 of the Financial Institutions Article;
(15)
Violation of § 10–604, § 10–605, § 10–606, § 10–607, § 10–607.1, or § 10–608 of the Criminal Law Article, whether a felony or misdemeanor;
(16)
Violation of Title 7, Subtitle 3, Part III of the Criminal Law Article, whether a felony or misdemeanor;
(17)
Violation of § 20–102 of the Transportation Article, whether a felony or misdemeanor;
(18)
Violation of § 8–801 of the Criminal Law Article;
(19)
Violation of § 8–604 of the Criminal Law Article;
(20)
Violation of Title 8, Subtitle 2, Part II of the Criminal Law Article;
(21)
Violation of § 16–801, § 16–802, § 16–803, or § 16–804 of the Election Law Article;
(22)
Violation of § 3–203(c) of the Criminal Law Article;
(23)
Violation of § 11–208 of the Criminal Law Article as a second or subsequent offense;
(24)
Violation of § 11–721 of the Criminal Procedure Article as a second or subsequent offense; or
(25)
Violation of § 3–1102(b) or § 3–1103 of the Criminal Law Article.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-302 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 3. Criminal Jurisdiction
§ 4–302LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as provided in § 4–301(b)(2), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), and (25) of this subtitle, the District Court does not have jurisdiction to try a criminal case charging the commission of a felony.
(b)
Except as provided in § 4-303 of this subtitle, the District Court does not have criminal jurisdiction to try a case in which a juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction.
(c)
The jurisdiction of the District Court is concurrent with that of the juvenile court in any criminal case arising under the compulsory public school attendance laws of this State.
(d)
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the jurisdiction of the District Court is concurrent with that of the circuit court in a criminal case:
(i)
In which the penalty may be confinement for 3 years or more or a fine of $2,500 or more; or
(ii)
That is a felony, as provided in § 4–301(b)(2), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), and (25) of this subtitle.
(2)
(i)
Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a circuit court does not have jurisdiction to try a case charging a violation of § 5–601 or § 5–620 of the Criminal Law Article.
(ii)
A circuit court does have jurisdiction to try a case charging a violation of § 5–601 or § 5–620 of the Criminal Law Article if the defendant:
(1)
Properly demands a jury trial;
(2)
Appeals as provided by law from a final judgment entered in the District Court; or
(3)
Is charged with another offense arising out of the same circumstances that is within a circuit court’s jurisdiction.
(e)
(1)
The District Court is deprived of jurisdiction if a defendant is entitled to and demands a jury trial at any time prior to trial in the District Court.
(2)
(i)
Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, unless the penalty for the offense with which the defendant is charged permits imprisonment for a period in excess of 90 days, a defendant is not entitled to a jury trial in a criminal case.
(ii)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the presiding judge of the District Court may deny a defendant a jury trial if:
(1)
The prosecutor recommends in open court that the judge not impose a penalty of imprisonment for a period in excess of 90 days, regardless of the permissible statutory or common law maximum;
(2)
The judge agrees not to impose a penalty of imprisonment for a period in excess of 90 days; and
(3)
The judge agrees not to increase the defendant’s bond if an appeal is noted.
(iii)
The State may not demand a jury trial.
(f)
(1)
Except as provided in Title 4, Subtitle 5 of the Family Law Article, the District Court does not have jurisdiction of an offense otherwise within the District Court’s jurisdiction if a person is charged:
(i)
With another offense arising out of the same circumstances but not within the District Court’s jurisdiction; or
(ii)
In the circuit court with an offense arising out of the same circumstances and within the concurrent jurisdictions of the District Court and the circuit court described under subsection (d) of this section.
(2)
In the cases described under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the circuit court for the county has exclusive original jurisdiction over all the offenses.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-303 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 3. Criminal Jurisdiction
§ 4–303LinkCopy Citation
The District Court has jurisdiction over a person who is brought before a court sitting as a juvenile court if:
(1)
The juvenile court waives jurisdiction or the person elects to be tried according to the regular criminal procedure; and
(2)
The offense charged is within the jurisdiction conferred by § 4-301 of this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-304 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 3. Criminal Jurisdiction
§ 4–304LinkCopy Citation
The District Court has jurisdiction to conduct a preliminary hearing in a felony case to determine if the defendant should be held for action of the grand jury or if charged by information, for trial in the appropriate court.
Subtitle 4. Civil Jurisdiction
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-401 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 4. Civil Jurisdiction
§ 4–401LinkCopy Citation
Except as provided in § 4–402 of this subtitle, and subject to the venue provisions of Title 6 of this article, the District Court has exclusive original civil jurisdiction in:
(1)
An action in contract or tort, if the debt or damages claimed do not exceed $30,000, exclusive of prejudgment or postjudgment interest, costs, and attorney’s fees if attorney’s fees are recoverable by law or contract;
(2)
An action of replevin, regardless of the value of the thing in controversy;
(3)
A matter of attachment before judgment, if the sum claimed does not exceed $30,000, exclusive of prejudgment or postjudgment interest, costs, and attorney’s fees if attorney’s fees are recoverable by law or contract;
(4)
An action involving landlord and tenant, distraint, or wrongful detainer, regardless of the amount involved;
(5)
A grantee suit brought under § 14–109 of the Real Property Article;
(6)
A petition for injunction relating to the use, disposition, encumbrances, or preservation of property that is:
(i)
Claimed in a replevin action, until seizure under the writ; or
(ii)
Sought to be levied upon in an action of distress, until levy and any removal;
(7)
A petition of injunction filed by:
(i)
A tenant in an action under § 8–211 of the Real Property Article or a local rent escrow law; or
(ii)
A person who brings an action under § 14–120, § 14–125.1, or § 14–125.2 of the Real Property Article;
(8)
A petition filed by a county or municipality, including Baltimore City, for enforcement of local health, housing, fire, building, electric, licenses and permits, plumbing, animal control, consumer protection, and zoning codes for which equitable relief is provided;
(9)
Proceedings under Title 12 or Title 13 of the Criminal Procedure Article for the forfeiture or return of money involved in a gambling or controlled dangerous substances seizure where the amount involved, excluding any interest and attorney’s fees, if attorney’s fees are recoverable by law or contract, does not exceed $20,000;
(10)
A proceeding for adjudication of:
(i)
A municipal infraction as described in § 6–102 of the Local Government Article;
(ii)
A Commission infraction as defined in § 17–208 of the Land Use Article;
(iii)
A Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission infraction under § 29–102 of the Public Utilities Article, concerning rules and regulations governing publicly owned watershed property;
(iv)
A Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission infraction under § 29–101 of the Public Utilities Article, concerning Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission regulations governing:
(1)
Erosion and sediment control for utility construction;
(2)
Plumbing, gas fitting, and sewer cleaning;
(3)
Required permits for utility construction; and
(4)
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Pretreatment Program;
(v)
A zoning violation for which a civil penalty has been provided in accordance with Title 11, Subtitle 2 or § 20–526(c) of the Land Use Article;
(vi)
A citation for a Code violation issued under § 10–119 of the Criminal Law Article;
(vii)
A civil infraction relating to a violation of the campaign finance laws under § 13–604 of the Election Law Article;
(viii)
A violation of an ordinance or regulation enacted by a county without home rule, under authority granted under the Local Government Article, or any provision of the Code of Public Local Laws for that county, for which a civil penalty is provided;
(ix)
A civil infraction that is authorized by law to be prosecuted by a sanitary commission;
(x)
A violation under Title 10, Subtitle 1, Part III of the Criminal Law Article; or
(xi)
A civil infraction relating to the storage or distribution of tobacco products under Title 1, Subtitle 12 of the Local Government Article;
(11)
A proceeding for adjudication of a civil penalty for any violation under § 5–1001 of the Environment Article, § 15–113, § 15–113.1, § 21–1122, or § 21–1414 of the Transportation Article, or § 14–304 of the Public Safety Article, or any rule or regulation issued pursuant to those sections;
(12)
A proceeding to enforce a civil penalty assessed by the Maryland Division of Labor and Industry under Title 5 of the Labor and Employment Article where the amount involved does not exceed $20,000;
(13)
A proceeding for a civil infraction under § 21–202.1, § 21–704.1, § 21–706.1, § 21–707.1, § 21–809, § 21–810, § 21–810.1, § 21–1134, § 22–612, or § 24–111.3 of the Transportation Article or § 10–112 of the Criminal Law Article;
(14)
A proceeding for a temporary peace order or a final peace order under Title 3, Subtitle 15 of this article;
(15)
A proceeding for condemnation and immediate possession of and title to abandoned, blighted, distressed, and deteriorated property under authority granted in the Code of Public Local Laws of a county, including Baltimore City, where the estimated value of the property does not exceed $25,000;
(16)
A proceeding for a replacement motor vehicle under § 14–1502(c)(1)(i) of the Commercial Law Article;
(17)
An action for damages for a dishonored check or other instrument under Title 15, Subtitle 8 of the Commercial Law Article, regardless of the amount in controversy; and
(18)
A civil action for an injunction or for a civil penalty for a violation of § 8–605(f) of the Transportation Article.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-402 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 4. Civil Jurisdiction
§ 4–402LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as provided in §§ 4–401 and 4–404 of this subtitle, the District Court does not have equity jurisdiction.
(b)
Except as provided in § 4–401 of this subtitle, the District Court does not have jurisdiction to decide the ownership of real property or of an interest in real property.
(c)
The District Court does not have jurisdiction to render a declaratory judgment.
(d)
(1)
(i)
Except in a case under paragraph (2), (4), (5), or (6) of § 4–401 of this subtitle, the plaintiff may elect to file suit in the District Court or in a trial court of general jurisdiction, if the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000, exclusive of prejudgment or postjudgment interest, costs, and attorney’s fees if attorney’s fees are recoverable by law or contract.
(ii)
In the case of a class action, the separate claims of the proposed members of the class may be aggregated to meet the minimum amount in controversy required under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.
(2)
In a case under § 4–401(7) or (8) of this subtitle, the plaintiff may elect to file a petition for injunctive relief either in the District Court or the circuit court.
(3)
In a case under § 4–401(16) of this subtitle, the plaintiff may elect to file a claim for a replacement motor vehicle in either the District Court or the circuit court.
(e)
(1)
In a civil action in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000, exclusive of attorney’s fees if attorney’s fees are recoverable by law or contract, a party may not demand a jury trial pursuant to the Maryland Rules.
(2)
Except in a replevin action, if a party is entitled to and files a timely demand, in accordance with the Maryland Rules, for a jury trial, jurisdiction is transferred forthwith and the record of the proceeding shall be transmitted to the appropriate court. In a replevin action, if a party is entitled to and files a timely demand for a jury trial, the District Court may conduct a hearing on the show–cause order prior to issuing the writ, enforce an injunction issued by it in the action, and issue, renew, and receive returns upon the writ of replevin. The action shall be transmitted to the appropriate court only after the writ has been returned, stating that the property sought has been seized or eloigned, and the time for filing a notice of intention to defend has expired.
(f)
If the amount in controversy in an action for damages for a dishonored check or other instrument under § 4–401(17) of this subtitle exceeds $25,000, the defendant is entitled to transfer the action from the District Court to an appropriate circuit court by filing a timely demand as prescribed under the Maryland Rules.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-404 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 4. Civil Jurisdiction
§ 4–404LinkCopy Citation
The District Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court over proceedings under Title 4, Subtitle 5 of the Family Law Article and has the powers of a court in equity in those proceedings.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 4. Civil Jurisdiction
§ 4–405LinkCopy Citation
The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over a small claim action, which, for purposes of this section, means a civil action for money in which the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000 exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney’s fees, if attorney’s fees are recoverable by law or contract; and landlord tenant action under §§ 8-401 and 8-402 of the Real Property Article, in which the amount of rent claimed does not exceed $5,000 exclusive of interest and costs.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-406 (2026)
Title 4. District Court -- Jurisdiction
Subtitle 4. Civil Jurisdiction
§ 4–406LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The District Court has concurrent civil jurisdiction with a governing body of a county or the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore over a proceeding for adjudication of a violation of an ordinance enacted:
(1)
By a charter county for which a civil penalty is provided under § 10–202 of the Local Government Article;
(2)
By the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore for which a civil penalty is provided by ordinance; or
(3)
By a code county for which a civil citation is issued under Title 11, Subtitle 3 of the Local Government Article.
(b)
The governing body of a county or the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore may delegate its authority under subsection (a) of this section to a board, a commission, an agency, or an officer under its jurisdiction and control.