Cal. Civ. Code § 8-209
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
(a) (1) This section applies only to a residential lease. (2) This section does not apply to a landlord who has provided written notice of the intent to terminate a tenancy in accordance with § 8–402(c)(2) of this article. (b) (1) A landlord shall notify a tenant in writing before increasing the tenant’s rent. (2) (i) The notice required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall: 1. Be sent by first–class mail with a certificate of mailing; or 2. If elected by the tenant, sent by electronic delivery in at least one of the following forms: A. An e–mail message; B. A text message; or C. Through an electronic tenant portal. (ii) The electronic delivery method shall provide the landlord with proof of transmission of the notice. (iii) A landlord may not condition the acceptance of a lease application on the tenant’s election to receive notice under this subsection by electronic delivery. (3) A landlord shall provide the notice required under paragraph (1) of this subsection: (i) For tenancies for a term of more than 1 month, at least 90 days in advance of the rent increase; (ii) For tenancies for a term of more than 1 week, but not more than 1 month, at least 60 days in advance of the rent increase; and (iii) For tenancies for a term of 1 week or less: 1. At least 7 days in advance of the rent increase if the parties have a written lease; or 2. At least 21 days in advance of the rent increase if the parties do not have a written lease. (c) This section does not affect or supersede any local law or ordinance that requires additional notice or provides additional tenant protections.
Maryland Real Property § 8-209 establishes that landlords renting residential units must give tenants written advance notice before any rent increase takes effect. The required notice period varies by tenancy length: at least 90 days for month-to-month or longer-term tenancies, 60 days for weekly-to-monthly tenancies, and 7 or 21 days for week-or-shorter tenancies depending on whether a written lease exists. Notice must be sent by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, or by an electronic method the tenant has chosen, and the landlord must retain proof of transmission. Local laws may impose even longer notice periods or additional protections beyond what § 8-209 requires.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Md. Real Prop. § 8-209, compliant residential landlords calculate the applicable notice window based on the tenancy term before scheduling any rent increase, ensuring the written notice is delivered well in advance of the deadline. Operators typically send notice by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, or by an electronic channel the tenant has affirmatively selected, and retain documentation proving the notice was transmitted. Landlords also check whether the property is located in a jurisdiction with a local rent-notice ordinance, since § 8-209 expressly preserves any local rules that require longer notice or provide greater tenant protections.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Maryland Real Property § 8-209 gives residential tenants the right to receive written advance notice of any rent increase, with the minimum lead time tied to how frequently rent is paid or how long the lease term runs. If a landlord raises rent without providing the notice required by § 8-209—or without the lead time the section mandates—tenants may have grounds to challenge the increase's validity, raise the lack of notice as a defense in a court proceeding, or file a complaint with a local rent board if one exists in their jurisdiction. Tenants can also contact a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand whether their city or county has additional protections that go beyond the state baseline established by § 8-209.
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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