Maryland rent late fee law
What your landlord is allowed to charge when rent is late, how soon they can charge it, and what to do about a fee the law doesn't allow.
Maximum late fee
5% of unpaid rent
Grace period
None
The cap
Under Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3), (g), Maryland prohibits any lease from imposing a late penalty above 5% of the unpaid rent due for the period — the delinquent amount, not necessarily the full month's rent. For weekly rentals the cap is $3 per week, at most $12 per month.
When the fee can start
Maryland law sets no mandatory grace period — when a late fee kicks in is governed by the lease. The cap operates as a prohibited-lease-provision rule: a lease term above it is unlawful to include at all. Landlords with five or more units must use written leases.
If you've been charged an illegal fee
A prohibited provision is unenforceable, and a landlord who includes one and attempts to enforce it — or even signals intent to — is liable for the tenant's actual damages plus reasonable attorney's fees.
Charged a fee the law doesn't allow?
Answer a few questions and get a formal demand letter citing Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3), (g) and exactly which rule your landlord broke — free to generate and download. We can also send it by USPS Certified Mail for you, with the delivery record that holds up in court.
Dispute my late feeDid your landlord also keep your security deposit?
Every state sets a deadline for returning your security deposit, with real penalties for landlords who miss it. See what Maryland law requires and what your landlord may owe you.
Maryland deposit lawCommon questions
- Is there a limit on late fees for rent in Maryland?
- Yes. Under Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3), (g), Maryland prohibits any lease from imposing a late penalty above 5% of the unpaid rent due for the period — the delinquent amount, not necessarily the full month's rent. For weekly rentals the cap is $3 per week, at most $12 per month.
- Can my landlord charge a late fee the day rent is due in Maryland?
- Maryland law imposes no mandatory grace period, so the lease controls when a late fee may be charged. The cap operates as a prohibited-lease-provision rule: a lease term above it is unlawful to include at all. Landlords with five or more units must use written leases.
- What can I do if my landlord charged an illegal late fee in Maryland?
- A prohibited provision is unenforceable, and a landlord who includes one and attempts to enforce it — or even signals intent to — is liable for the tenant's actual damages plus reasonable attorney's fees.
Statute text verified against the published source on August 6, 2026. Laws change — confirm the current text before relying on it. This page is general information, not legal advice.