# State Government (GSG)

## Title 20. Human Relations

### Subtitle 7. Discrimination in Housing

#### Section 20-705.1

(a)

  (1) In this section, "income-based housing subsidy" means recurring monetary assistance to a landlord from a governmental entity or nonprofit organization that is intended to defray, in whole or in part, a tenant's rent obligation.

  (2) "Income-based housing subsidy" includes low-income housing assistance certificates and vouchers issued under the United States Housing Act of 1937.

(b) Except as authorized under federal law, a landlord of residential rental property that uses financial information, including credit history, as part of a prospective tenant's rental application may not refuse to rent to a prospective tenant who pays rent with the assistance of an income-based housing subsidy on the basis of:

  (1) the prospective tenant's income;

  (2) the prospective tenant's credit score or lack of credit score; or

  (3) any adverse credit history that arose during a period when the prospective tenant did not have an income-based housing subsidy, if the period during which the tenant did not have the subsidy is confirmed by:

    (i) the applicant;

    (ii) voucher paperwork;

    (iii) documents provided by a public housing authority; or

    (iv) a public housing authority in response to a request by the landlord.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, a landlord may not require that a public housing authority verify applicable dates for the subsidy for purposes of assessing the tenant's credit history.

(d) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, a landlord that receives funding from a governmental entity, a quasi-governmental entity, or a nonprofit organization that requires income qualification for tenants in income-restricted rental units may collect financial information from a prospective tenant if the collection of financial information is a condition of the funding.

(e) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, a landlord of residential rental property may require verification that a tenant has sufficient income to pay the portion of rent not covered by the income-based housing subsidy using an income to tenant's portion of rent ratio that is substantially equivalent to the ratio used by the landlord for nonsubsidized tenants.

(f) A landlord of residential rental property may refuse to rent to a prospective tenant who pays rent with the assistance of an income-based housing subsidy on the basis of any commercially reasonable and nondiscriminatory use of:

  (1) a reference from a previous or current landlord of the tenant; or

  (2) the tenant's history of violating a lease, failing to pay utilities, creating a nuisance, or damaging property.

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Md. Code Ann., State Gov't (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)