Skip to content
Oakclause

Rent Late Fee Laws in Maryland

In Maryland, a lease may not set a late fee above 5% of the unpaid rent due for the rental period, and for weekly rent no more than $3 per week or $12 per month; the statute sets no grace period.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maryland at a glance

Late fee cap
5% of the rent due
For weekly rent, no more than $3 per week or $12 per month in total.
Cap (% of rent)
5%
Grace period
None required by statute

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maryland

How much can a landlord charge as a late fee in Maryland?

Late fee cap in Maryland: 5% of the rent due. For weekly rent, no more than $3 per week or $12 per month in total.

What percentage of the rent is the late fee cap in Maryland?

Cap (% of rent) in Maryland: 5%.

How many days does a tenant have before a late fee can be charged in Maryland?

Grace period in Maryland: None required by statute.

Where do the Maryland rent late fee laws come from?

The rules above come from Md. Code, Real Prop. 8-208(d)(3). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

In many states, a landlord can charge a late fee only if the lease provides for it. Putting the amount, the due date, and any grace period in the lease in plain numbers helps both sides avoid disputes.

When a state counts a grace period, the details matter: whether weekends and holidays count, and whether the clock starts on the due date or the day after. Read the statute text linked on each state page rather than relying on a rounded summary.

Late fees are separate from unpaid rent. Keeping rent receipts and a record of the date each payment arrived makes it easier to check whether a fee was charged correctly and to resolve disagreements before they reach court.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.