A company that offers household-goods moving services in Maryland with a commercial motor vehicle must be registered with the Maryland Department of Labor. Search the official public query, get the registration number in writing, and confirm that the registration is current before you book. A truck with a logo is not, by itself, proof that the mover is registered.

What registration is required?

A 2019 Maryland law requires registration of household goods movers. The Department of Labor defines a household goods mover as a person who provides household goods moving services: loading, packing, moving, transporting, storing while in transit, unloading, or otherwise taking possession or control from a consumer of household goods for the purpose of moving them to another location at the consumer's direction, for a fee. A person may not provide or offer those services in the State using a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in 49 C.F.R. 390.5, unless the person is registered as a household goods mover.

Registration is issued for a one-year period from the date of issuance. Applicants must provide insurance showing liability and cargo coverage that meets the minimum standards in 49 C.F.R. Part 387.303, and proof of workers' compensation coverage for covered employees, among other information. You can search active registrants in the Household Goods Movers Public Query. Ask every company that quotes an in-state move for:

• The legal name and any trade name on the registration, and the registration number.
• Confirmation that liability and cargo insurance and workers' compensation are in force.
• A written estimate that meets Commercial Law § 14-3103.
• A physical business address and a working telephone number.

The Household Goods Movers Registration Unit is part of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, 100 S. Charles Street, Tower I, Baltimore, MD 21201. The public query lists 1-888-218-5925 or 410-230-6231, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and hhg.labor@maryland.gov. If you have a concern about a lack of registration, proper insurance, or workers' compensation coverage, the consumer page lists 410-230-6174.

Interstate moves are different. If the shipment starts in another state and ends in Maryland, or the reverse, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the carrier. Check that company at ProtectYourMove.gov, and still get a written estimate. A company can be registered for Maryland household-goods service and still lack interstate authority, or the reverse.

How to compare companies and avoid a bad moving day

Once you have two or three registered movers, compare more than the headline price. Maryland law requires a written estimate before an intrastate move, unless you voluntarily waive that right, and the estimate must itemize services and fees, state the total, state the time and method of payment, and say whether it is binding or nonbinding. A binding estimate caps what you can be required to pay for the services described. A nonbinding estimate generally caps the price at 125% of the estimated total, plus certain excess charges the statute defines. Get a dated inventory, photograph furniture and electronics, and do not sign a blank bill of lading.

Be cautious of a large cash deposit demanded before any survey, a demand that you pay the entire balance in cash only, a refusal to provide a registration number or a written estimate, or a crew that arrives in an unmarked truck and then asks for more money to unload. Commercial Law § 14-3102 states that a household goods mover may not enforce or threaten to enforce a carrier's lien against, or refuse to deliver, a consumer's household goods on an intrastate move. If a crew will not unload unless you pay an amount that exceeds the estimate rules, document the scene and contact the Department of Labor and, if needed, local law enforcement.

On moving day, walk the house with the crew leader before the truck leaves and again at delivery before you sign that you received the goods. If something is missing or damaged, note it on the delivery receipt and follow up in writing. File a consumer complaint with the Department of Labor for damage, late arrival, a contract or money dispute, detainment, or missing property, using the complaint path on the household-goods consumer page.

Ask whether the written estimate is binding or nonbinding, and keep it with the registration number and the inventory. If a problem arises after delivery, write to the company first, then use the Department of Labor complaint process for damage, missing items, or a payment dispute.

FAQ

Who registers in-state Maryland movers?

The Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Household Goods Movers Registration Unit, under the law that took effect October 1, 2019.

How can I confirm a registration?

Ask for the legal name and registration number, then search the official Household Goods Movers Public Query or call 1-888-218-5925 or 410-230-6231.

Can the mover keep my furniture over a payment dispute?

For an intrastate move, Commercial Law § 14-3102 prohibits the mover from enforcing or threatening a carrier's lien, or refusing to deliver the goods.

What if my move crosses a state line?

That is an interstate shipment under FMCSA rules. Verify the carrier at ProtectYourMove.gov, and do not rely only on a Maryland registration.

Next step

Look up each company in the Department of Labor public query, compare written estimates, and talk with a licensed local agent if you also want coverage for items the mover's cargo insurance may not fully protect.

Sources: Maryland Department of Labor, Household Goods Movers Registration; Maryland Department of Labor, Information for Consumers; Household Goods Movers Public Query; Commercial Law § 14-3102; Commercial Law § 14-3103; ProtectYourMove.gov.

A household move that starts in another state and ends in Maryland, or the reverse, is an interstate shipment regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Verify the company at ProtectYourMove.gov, get a written estimate, and do not treat a Maryland Department of Labor registration as enough for a crossing-the-border move.

The federal rules on estimates, the booklet "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move," and cargo valuation apply to these shipments.

How to check the carrier before you sign

Look up the legal name and the USDOT or MC number at ProtectYourMove.gov or in the FMCSA company snapshot. Confirm that the company has current interstate household-goods authority, insurance filings, and a safety record you are willing to accept. Ask whether the sales agent is booking for the same company that will actually haul the load. A broker should disclose that role in writing. If the name on the website, the estimate, and the truck do not match the FMCSA record, pause the booking.

FMCSA requires a written estimate for interstate household-goods moves. Ask whether the estimate is binding or non-binding, and have the estimator do a visual or virtual survey of the goods. Keep the estimate, the order for service, and the bill of lading. Federal rules also require the mover to give you the consumer booklet and to explain valuation options. Released-value coverage at the basic level is limited; you can usually purchase a higher declared value or a third-party policy. Compare those options in writing, and talk with a licensed local insurance agent if you want coverage that is not limited to the mover's valuation.

Do not make a large cash-only deposit to a crew you have not verified. Be cautious of a quote that is far below every other bid, a demand to pay the entire balance in cash before unloading, or a refusal to put the estimate in writing. Photograph high-value items and complete a detailed inventory.

Maryland's Department of Labor household-goods registration, the written-estimate rule in Commercial Law § 14-3103, and the no-carrier's-lien rule in § 14-3102 apply to household-goods service inside Maryland. They are not a substitute for FMCSA interstate authority. A company may hold one credential and not the other. If part of the job is an in-state shuttle after an interstate line-haul, ask in writing which carrier is responsible for each leg and which set of rules applies.

Delivery, claims, and new-resident tasks at the other end

At delivery, walk the truck with the crew and note damage or shortages on the inventory or bill of lading before you sign. Filing a claim later is harder if you signed that everything arrived in good condition. Follow the claim process and deadlines in the bill of lading and the FMCSA booklet. You can also submit a complaint at ProtectYourMove.gov. For a deceptive practice that began with a Maryland sales pitch, the Department of Labor or the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division may be an additional contact.

If Maryland is the destination, calendar the MVA new-resident deadlines: 60 days to obtain a Maryland driver license and to title and register vehicles you own, and 30 days to transfer a commercial driver license. A safety inspection is generally required, and the vehicle must have Maryland-approved auto insurance. Those tasks are separate from the moving contract, but they start when you become a resident.

Ask who will actually drive the truck and whether interline or contracted carriers will handle any part of the haul. Get those names and USDOT numbers in writing, and look them up as well. Confirm the pickup and delivery window, any storage-in-transit, and how charges will be collected at delivery. Federal rules limit how much a mover can demand above a non-binding estimate at delivery; read that section of the booklet before you pay. After a Maryland delivery, keep the MVA 60-day license and title deadlines on the same calendar as any moving claim, because those clocks start when you become a resident. If a moving broker arranges the shipment, the broker should disclose that role in writing and identify the actual carrier.

Do not sign a blank inventory or a delivery receipt that waives obvious damage. Note shortages and broken items on the document before the truck leaves, then follow the claim process and deadlines in the bill of lading and the FMCSA booklet.

FAQ

When is a move to Maryland an interstate shipment?

When the household goods are transported from a point in another state to a point in Maryland, or from Maryland to another state. FMCSA, not Maryland's in-state estimate and lien rules, is the primary regulator of that transportation.

How do I verify the company?

Look up the legal name and USDOT or MC number at ProtectYourMove.gov or in the FMCSA company snapshot, and confirm current household-goods authority and insurance.

Does a Maryland Department of Labor registration cover a move from Virginia?

No. Maryland registration covers household-goods service in the State using a commercial motor vehicle, as the registration law describes. An interstate shipment requires FMCSA interstate authority.

What documents should I receive?

A written estimate, the FMCSA consumer booklet, an explanation of valuation options, an order for service, a bill of lading, and an inventory.

Next step

Look up each company at ProtectYourMove.gov, compare written estimates and valuation options, and talk with a licensed local agent about coverage for items the mover's valuation may not fully protect, especially if Maryland will be your new residence.

Sources: ProtectYourMove.gov; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Maryland Department of Labor, Household Goods Movers Registration; MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration, New Maryland Residents.

For an in-state Maryland move, a household goods mover may not enforce or threaten a carrier's lien, or refuse to deliver your household goods. Commercial Law § 14-3102 is the rule. Confirm the company's Department of Labor registration, keep the written estimate, and file problems about damage, missing items, or a payment dispute with the Household Goods Movers Registration Unit.

What to verify, and what the no-lien rule means

Start with the legal name and the registration number. Search the Household Goods Movers Public Query, or call 1-888-218-5925 or 410-230-6231, and match the name on the estimate and the truck to the name on the registration. If you are concerned about a lack of registration, insurance, or workers' compensation, the Department's consumer page lists 410-230-6174. Authority or registration issued in another state, or a USDOT number alone, is not a substitute for Maryland registration on an in-state commercial-motor-vehicle move.

Get a written estimate that states whether it is binding or nonbinding. Keep the estimate, the inventory, photographs, and any later change orders. Do not prepay a large cash deposit to an unverified crew. On delivery day, if the crew demands more than a binding total, or more than 125% of a nonbinding estimate plus a documented excess charge, you have a statutory basis to question the bill. You also have a separate protection: the mover may not refuse to deliver the goods or threaten a carrier's lien on an intrastate move. That does not mean every extra fee is lawful, and it does not replace paying a bill that is within the estimate rules, but it does mean the furniture should not be held hostage over a dispute.

Write down the truck's markings, the crew names if they are offered, the time of arrival, and the amount demanded. If a crew will not unload household goods, contact the company office, then the Department of Labor, and if needed local law enforcement. Photograph the scene when it is safe to do so.

Where to take a complaint

The Department of Labor consumer page tells you to file a complaint for damage to property, damage to the home or a vehicle, unprofessional behavior including late arrivals, contractual disputes, monetary disputes, detainment of property, or missing property. Use the complaint link on that page, and keep copies of what you send. The Registration Unit's mailing address is 100 S. Charles Street, Tower I, Baltimore, MD 21201, and the unit email is hhg.labor@maryland.gov.

You may also contact the Maryland Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, which publishes a "Hiring a Mover? Protect Yourself!" guide, especially if the issue looks like a deceptive practice. For a move that crossed a state line, use FMCSA's complaint process at ProtectYourMove.gov as well, because interstate household-goods service is a federal matter, and § 14-3102 is an intrastate rule.

After delivery, send the company a dated letter with inventory notations, photographs, and a specific dollar request, and copy the Department if the carrier does not respond. Note shortages and broken items on the delivery receipt before the truck leaves. A signature that everything arrived in good condition makes a later claim harder.

Before the crew arrives, put the legal name, registration number, estimate date, origin, destination, and promised delivery window on one sheet. Photograph the truck's markings. After delivery, if damage or a shortage appears, send the company a dated letter with the inventory notations and a specific dollar request, and copy the Department of Labor if the mover does not respond. Keep the Attorney General's consumer guide with that file as a checklist of warning signs. For an interstate shipment, use ProtectYourMove.gov as well, because a state registration review will not replace an FMCSA complaint. If you are also changing your driver license or vehicle title after the move, calendar the MVA's 60-day new-resident deadlines separately from the moving claim.

If the company uses a trade name in advertising, ask for the legal name on the registration and confirm that name in the public query. Registration is issued to a business, and a slogan on a truck door is not a substitute. Keep the written estimate, the inventory, and photographs with any complaint you file, and calendar the dates of pickup and delivery. If local police are called because a crew will not unload, get a report number and include it in the Department of Labor complaint. After the move, you can still pursue a written damage claim even if the delivery-day dispute was only about the charges.

FAQ

Can an in-state Maryland mover keep my goods until I pay a higher bill?

Commercial Law § 14-3102 says a household goods mover may not enforce or threaten to enforce a carrier's lien against, or refuse to deliver, a consumer's household goods on an intrastate move.

Who takes a complaint about damage or a contract dispute?

The Maryland Department of Labor Household Goods Movers Registration Unit, through the complaint process on its consumer page.

What number do I call about missing registration or insurance?

The consumer page lists 410-230-6174 for issues about a lack of registration, proper insurance, or workers' compensation coverage.

Does this no-lien rule cover a move from Delaware or West Virginia?

No. Section 14-3102 applies to an intrastate move. An interstate shipment is overseen by FMCSA. Use ProtectYourMove.gov as well.

Next step

Write down the mover's legal name and registration number, confirm both in the public query, keep the written estimate with your moving file, and contact the Department of Labor if goods are withheld or charges exceed the statutory estimate rules.

Sources: Commercial Law § 14-3102; Maryland Department of Labor, Information for Consumers; Household Goods Movers Public Query; Maryland Attorney General, Hiring a Mover? Protect Yourself!; ProtectYourMove.gov.

Before an intrastate Maryland move, a household goods mover must give you a written estimate unless you voluntarily waive that right. A binding estimate caps what you can be required to pay for the services described. A nonbinding estimate generally cannot require you to pay more than 125% of the estimated total, plus certain excess charges.

Commercial Law § 14-3103 is the statute.

What the written estimate must contain

Subject to a voluntary, uncoerced waiver, a household goods mover shall provide a written estimate to a consumer before providing household goods moving services for an intrastate move. The written estimate shall:

• Separately identify each household goods moving service that the mover will provide and the price of each service.
• Separately identify each fee that the consumer will or may be required to pay.
• State the estimated total price.
• State the time and method of payment.
• Indicate clearly whether the estimate is binding on the consumer and the household goods mover.

If the estimate is binding, you may not be required to pay more than the estimated total price stated in the estimate for the services described in it. If the estimate is nonbinding, you may not be required to pay more than 125% of that estimated total, plus any applicable excess charges. "Excess charges" are amounts, above the estimate, charged for additional services provided before or during the move that are necessary because of circumstances beyond the mover's control that could not have been reasonably anticipated.

Get the estimate in writing, with the legal name of the mover, the registration number, the origin and destination, the inventory or volume the price is based on, and the binding or nonbinding label. A verbal quote is hard to compare to the statute. Walk through the house with the estimator and list rooms, heavy items, and access problems before the estimate is written. If you later add a piano or a third-floor move-out, get a revised writing. Do not sign a waiver of the estimate right unless you understand that you are giving up the 125% and binding caps the statute otherwise provides, and that the waiver must be voluntary and without coercion.

Confirm that the company is registered with the Department of Labor before you rely on the estimate. Registration, insurance, and workers' compensation are separate from the estimate rule. You can search the public query or call 1-888-218-5925 or 410-230-6231.

If the bill is higher than the estimate

At delivery, compare the bill to the written estimate. For a binding estimate, you should not be required to pay more than the stated total for the described services. For a nonbinding estimate, you should not be required to pay more than 125% of that total, except for qualifying excess charges. Ask the company to show, in writing, why any extra amount is an excess charge that could not have been reasonably anticipated. A demand for a large extra cash payment before the crew will unload is a warning sign. For an in-state move, § 14-3102 prohibits the mover from refusing to deliver the goods or from enforcing or threatening a carrier's lien.

If you believe you were overcharged, or that the mover was not registered, write to the company and file a complaint with the Department of Labor, and keep the estimate, inventory, photographs, and bill. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division also publishes consumer guidance on hiring a mover. An interstate shipment follows FMCSA estimate rules, which are not the same as Maryland's 125% cap. Confirm which set of rules covers your shipment before you compare bids.

The estimate should also identify the mover's legal name and Maryland registration number so you can match it to the public query. If the company cannot produce a registration, or if the estimate omits the binding or nonbinding label, the services list, or the total, do not book until those items are in writing. Keep Department of Labor contacts with the moving file: 1-888-218-5925, 410-230-6231, or hhg.labor@maryland.gov. Photograph access issues the estimator saw, including stairs, long walks, and parking limits, so a later excess charge can be compared to what was reasonably anticipated. If you use storage in transit, get those rates and the number of days in the same written estimate.

FAQ

Does every in-state Maryland move require a written estimate?

Yes, unless the consumer waives that right voluntarily and without coercion, under § 14-3103.

What is the difference between binding and nonbinding?

A binding estimate caps the price at the stated total for the services described. A nonbinding estimate generally caps what you can be required to pay at 125% of the estimated total, plus defined excess charges.

What is an excess charge?

An amount above the estimate for additional services provided before or during the move that are necessary because of circumstances beyond the mover's control that could not reasonably have been anticipated.

Do these caps apply to a move from Virginia or Pennsylvania into Maryland?

No. A shipment that crosses a state line is interstate and is overseen by FMCSA. Maryland's written-estimate statute applies to an intrastate move.

Next step

Ask each registered Maryland mover for a written estimate that states whether it is binding, compare any later bill to the 125% cap if it is nonbinding, and contact the Department of Labor if the charges do not match the statute.

Sources: Commercial Law § 14-3103; Commercial Law § 14-3102; Maryland Department of Labor, Information for Consumers; Maryland Attorney General, Hiring a Mover? Protect Yourself!.

New Maryland residents must obtain a Maryland driver license and a Maryland vehicle title and registration within 60 days of becoming a resident. A commercial driver license must be transferred within 30 days. A Maryland safety inspection is generally required to title a vehicle you bring into the State.

The vehicle must be insured by a Maryland-approved company. Visit a Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) branch with a New to Maryland appointment.

Driver license for a new resident

The MVA new-residents page states the 60-day deadline in plain language. An out-of-state driver license must be updated to a Maryland license within 60 days of moving to Maryland. Failure to meet the deadline may result in penalties. You will be asked to surrender the current out-of-state license. New residents can generally exchange a valid out-of-state U.S. license, or one that expired within the past 12 months. If the out-of-state license expired more than 12 months ago, you must pass the knowledge test, skills test, and vision test. A suspended out-of-state license cannot be exchanged. If you have been licensed for less than 18 months, the exchange may be for a Maryland provisional license. An out-of-state learner's permit cannot be exchanged for a Maryland learner's permit.

Bring originals, not copies. The MVA requires proof of age and identity, proof of Social Security number, two documents that prove Maryland residency, and the current out-of-state license or a certified driving record not more than 30 days old if you do not have the card. You must pass a vision screening, or have acceptable vision results within the previous 24 months, as the MVA describes. Use the myMVA Document Selector and the official document lists, because acceptable documents can change. If you also need a REAL ID-compliant credential, confirm the extra documents before you go.

Schedule the appointment in myMVA and complete the pre-application. You can often handle the license and the title and registration in one visit if you bring both sets of documents.

Title, registration, inspection, and insurance

You must update the vehicle's title and registration within 60 days of moving to Maryland. Missing the deadline disqualifies you from a tax credit for any titling tax you paid in another state, and you may be subject to a citation for an out-of-state registration. Take the vehicle for a safety inspection at an authorized Maryland inspection station and bring a valid Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate, unless you are returning a vehicle that was previously titled in Maryland in your name. Emissions testing (VEIP) is not done at the safety inspection; the MVA says you will receive a VEIP notice about three months after registering.

Bring a valid Maryland license or proof of a Maryland residential address, the out-of-state title (and lien-holder contacts if the vehicle is leased or financed), Maryland insurance information including the company name, policy or binder number, and agent's name if applicable, and payment for titling and registration fees. Only a company licensed and approved to do business in Maryland may insure a vehicle registered here. The liability minimums are $30,000/$60,000/$15,000, plus the required UM/UIM and PIP options. If you will keep an out-of-state vehicle in Maryland for 60 days or longer without becoming a resident, ask the MVA about a non-resident permit rather than assuming the 60-day resident rule is the only clock that matters.

A licensed local insurance agent can place a Maryland auto policy before the branch visit, because insurance information is part of the title and registration appointment.

Do not wait until day 59 to collect documents. Proof of Maryland residency requires two original documents with your name and Maryland address, and a VIN or title issue can require a return visit. If your out-of-state license expired more than a year ago, plan time for knowledge and skills tests. Complete the myMVA pre-application so the branch visit includes the documents the checklist actually requires. If the vehicle has a lien, bring the lien-holder fax number and account information so the title can be handled in one trip. Titling and registration fees are posted on the MVA fees page and depend on the vehicle; ask for an estimate in the pre-application rather than guessing. A temporary gap in insurance after you arrive can also create an MVA compliance case, so place the Maryland policy before you return the out-of-state plates.

FAQ

How long do I have to get a Maryland driver license?

The MVA requires you to obtain a Maryland license within 60 days of becoming a resident if you hold an out-of-state license. A commercial driver license must be transferred within 30 days.

How long do I have to title and register a vehicle I already own?

You must title and register the vehicle in Maryland within 60 days of moving to the State.

Do I need a safety inspection?

Generally yes, at an authorized Maryland inspection station, unless you are returning a vehicle previously titled in Maryland in your name.

Do I need Maryland insurance to register?

Yes. A Maryland-registered vehicle must be insured by an approved Maryland insurer and must meet the State's minimum coverage requirements, even when the vehicle is not being driven.

Next step

Schedule a New to Maryland MVA appointment, gather the identity, residency, title, inspection, and insurance documents on the official lists, and talk with a licensed local agent about a Maryland auto policy before the 60-day deadlines.

Sources: MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration, New Maryland Residents; MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration, Get a Maryland Driver's License or ID Card; MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration, Title and Register your Vehicle in Maryland; MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration, Auto Insurance Requirements.

Maryland generally caps a residential security deposit at the equivalent of one month's rent per dwelling unit, regardless of the number of tenants. A limited exception allows up to two months' rent if the tenant qualifies for utility assistance, pays utilities directly to the landlord, and agrees in writing to that amount.

After the tenancy ends, the landlord generally has 45 days to return the deposit, plus statutory interest, minus itemized amounts. Real Property Article § 8-203 is the statute, and a waiver in the lease is void.

The cap, the receipt, and the 45-day return

Section 8-203(b) states the one-month cap and the narrow two-month exception for a tenant who is eligible and has qualified for utility assistance through the Department of Human Services, whose lease requires utility payments directly to the landlord, and who agrees in writing to the deposit amount. If a landlord charges more than the law allows, the tenant may recover up to three times the extra amount, plus reasonable attorney's fees, during the tenancy or within two years after it ends.

The landlord must give a receipt as specified in § 8-203.1 and include it in a written lease. The deposit must be placed, within 30 days, in a federally insured Maryland branch account devoted exclusively to security deposits and bearing interest, or in certain insured certificates or government securities, in an aggregate amount equal to all deposits for which the landlord is liable.

Within 45 days after the end of the tenancy, the landlord shall return the deposit together with simple interest that has accrued at the daily U.S. Treasury yield curve rate for 1 year, as of the first business day of each year, or 1.5% a year, whichever is greater, less any damages rightfully withheld. Interest accrues at monthly intervals from the day the tenant gave the deposit, is not compounded, is not due unless the landlord held the deposit at least six months, is not payable for a period shorter than a full month, and is payable only on deposits of $50 or more. The Department of Housing and Community Development maintains a rate list and a calculator that landlords may rely on.

If any portion is withheld, the landlord must send, by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address, within 45 days after termination, a written list of the damages claimed and an itemized statement of the costs incurred, with supporting documentation that identifies the materials or services, or an estimate that is later followed by a final invoice and a refund of any unused withholding within 30 days after repairs are completed. Failure to provide the required list forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages. If the landlord, without a reasonable basis, fails to return any part of the deposit plus interest within 45 days, the tenant has an action of up to threefold of the withheld amount, plus reasonable attorney's fees.

You have the right to be present at a move-out inspection if you notify the landlord by certified mail of your intention to move, the date, and your new address, mailed at least 15 days before moving. The landlord must then notify you by certified mail of the inspection time, which must occur within five days before or after your moving date. You must be advised of these rights in writing when you pay the deposit; failure to do so forfeits the landlord's right to withhold for damages.

Allowed uses, evictions, and surety bonds

The deposit may be withheld for unpaid rent, damage due to a lease breach, or damage beyond ordinary wear and tear to the premises, common areas, major appliances, and furnishings. It is not liquidated damages and may not be forfeited except in the amount of actual damage, or a surcharge authorized under a cited Courts Article provision. If you are evicted or abandon the premises early, the usual 45-day clock works differently: you may demand the deposit by first-class mail within 45 days, with your new address, and the landlord then has 45 days from receipt of that notice to send the itemized list and the remainder.

A landlord may not require you to buy a surety bond. If you choose a bond, official limits and disclosures in § 8-203(i) apply, and a bond plus a deposit generally may not exceed two months' rent in the aggregate. Read those rules before you substitute a bond for a cash deposit. The Department of Housing and Community Development also posts a rental security deposit calculator. Photograph the unit at move-in and move-out, give a forwarding address, and calendar day 45. A small-claims filing may be the next step if the itemized return does not arrive or deductions look inconsistent with the statute.

FAQ

Is there a statewide limit on a security deposit?

Yes. Except for the narrow utility-assistance exception, a landlord may not impose a deposit in excess of one month's rent per dwelling unit.

How soon must the deposit be returned?

Generally within 45 days after the tenancy ends, with statutory interest and, if anything is withheld, an itemized statement of damages and costs.

What interest is due?

Simple interest at the daily U.S. Treasury 1-year yield curve rate as of the first business day of each year, or 1.5% a year, whichever is greater, with the statute's rules on six-month holding, monthly accrual, and the $50 threshold.

Can a lease waive these rules?

No. Section 8-203(l) states that no provision of the section may be waived in any lease.

Next step

Give the landlord a forwarding address, photograph the unit, calendar the 45-day deadline, and talk with a licensed local agent or a housing attorney if the itemized return does not arrive or if the deposit exceeded the one-month cap.

Sources: Real Property Article § 8-203; Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, rental security deposit calculator; Maryland Attorney General, Landlord-Tenant Disputes.