Cal. Civ. Code § 8-301
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated unless otherwise apparent from context. (b) “Court” means the District Court. (c) “Defendant” means a tenant. (d) “Distress” means an action of distress filed pursuant to the provisions of this subtitle. (e) “Goods” means goods, chattels, grain, growing crops, produce, unborn young of animals, inventory, and equipment regardless of where found or located, and includes cash money found on the leased premises. “Goods” does not include choses in action, other forms of intangible property, written contracts, securities, bonds, notes, or other instruments for the payment of money.
Section 8-301 of Maryland's Real Property Code establishes the definitions that govern the 'distress' subtitle, which deals with a landlord's legal remedy to seize certain tenant property for unpaid rent. Key terms include 'Court' (referring to the District Court), 'Defendant' (meaning the tenant), 'Distress' (the formal legal action under this subtitle), and 'Goods' (a broad category of tangible property such as chattels, grain, crops, inventory, and cash found on the premises, but explicitly excluding intangible property like contracts, securities, and financial instruments). These definitions set the interpretive boundaries for all provisions within the subtitle.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-301 of Md. Code Ann., Real Prop., landlords pursuing a distress action need to understand that only 'Goods' as specifically defined in this section are subject to that remedy — tangible items like equipment, inventory, and cash found on the leased premises qualify, while intangible property such as written contracts, bonds, or securities do not. Compliant operators familiarize themselves with these definitional limits before initiating any distress proceeding in the District Court. Misidentifying property subject to distress can affect the validity of the action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-301 of Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. defines the scope of what a landlord may target in a distress action, and tenants should be aware that only certain tangible 'Goods' — not intangible property like contracts, notes, or securities — fall within the reach of this remedy. If a distress action is filed, tenants have the right to contest it in the District Court, which is the designated forum under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations in Maryland can help explain how these definitions may apply in a given distress proceeding.
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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