Cal. Civ. Code § 8-205
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
(a) (1) In Anne Arundel County, unless the tenant makes payment by check or rents the property for commercial or business purposes, if property is leased for any definite term or at will, the landlord shall give the tenant a receipt showing payment and the time period which the payment covers. (2) On conviction of violating this section, any person or agent shall forfeit the rent for the period in question. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a) of this section, the landlord or landlord’s agent shall give the tenant a receipt if the tenant: (1) Makes payment in cash; or (2) Requests a receipt. (c) In addition to any other penalty, the landlord shall be liable to the tenant in the sum of $25 if the landlord fails to provide a written receipt as required by this section.
Under Maryland Real Property § 8-205, landlords are generally required to provide tenants with a written receipt when rent is paid in cash or when a tenant requests one. In Anne Arundel County, the rule goes further: receipts must be given for all rental payments (except those made by check or for commercial/business purposes), and the receipt must show both the amount paid and the period it covers. A landlord who fails to provide a required receipt faces a $25 civil liability to the tenant, and in Anne Arundel County a conviction for violating the section can result in forfeiture of the rent for the period in question.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Md. Real Prop. § 8-205 generally maintain a practice of issuing written receipts any time a tenant pays in cash or asks for one, documenting the payment amount and the rental period it covers. Those operating in Anne Arundel County apply this practice to all residential rent payments regardless of whether a receipt is requested, unless the tenant pays by check or the lease is for commercial or business use. Compliant operators keep copies of issued receipts as part of their records, since failure to provide a required receipt exposes the landlord to a $25 statutory liability per instance, plus potential forfeiture of rent in Anne Arundel County upon conviction.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Md. Real Prop. § 8-205, tenants have the right to a written receipt whenever they pay rent in cash or simply ask for one, and tenants in Anne Arundel County are entitled to receipts for all residential rent payments (except those made by check). If a landlord fails to provide a required receipt, the statute makes the landlord liable to the tenant for $25, which tenants may be able to raise as a claim or defense in a relevant proceeding. Tenants who believe this provision has been violated may wish to document the payment and the landlord's failure to provide a receipt, and can explore options such as contacting a local tenant-rights organization or consulting with a housing attorney familiar with Maryland law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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