Cal. Civ. Code § 20-708
Md. Code Ann., State Gov't Art. Title 20 — Fair Housing and Anti-Discrimination
Operative Text
A person may not coerce, intimidate, threaten, interfere with, or retaliate against any person: (1) in the exercise or enjoyment of any right granted or protected by this subtitle; (2) because a person has exercised or enjoyed any right granted or protected by this subtitle; or (3) because a person has aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of any right granted or protected by this subtitle.
Under Md. Code Ann., State Gov't §§ 20-701 to 20-1204 § 20-708, Maryland law prohibits any person from coercing, intimidating, threatening, interfering with, or retaliating against someone because they exercised a right protected under this subtitle, or because they helped another person do so. The protection extends to the act of exercising a right, the aftermath of having exercised it, and any assistance given to others in doing the same. This provision creates a broad anti-retaliation and anti-interference shield around the fair housing and civil rights protections established elsewhere in the subtitle.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Maryland law should be aware that Md. Code Ann., State Gov't §§ 20-701 to 20-1204 § 20-708 bars any conduct that could be construed as coercion, intimidation, threats, interference, or retaliation directed at a person who has asserted or assisted with a protected right. Compliant operators generally avoid actions such as raising rents, issuing notices, or changing lease terms in close temporal proximity to a tenant's complaint or fair housing activity. Maintaining clear, documented, and business-justified reasons for any adverse housing action is a practice commonly associated with compliance under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Md. Code Ann., State Gov't §§ 20-701 to 20-1204 § 20-708 gives tenants the right to be free from retaliation, intimidation, or interference after they have exercised a fair housing or civil rights protection, filed a complaint, or helped someone else do so. If a tenant believes a landlord has taken adverse action in response to protected activity, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or a relevant state or local civil rights agency. Tenant-rights organizations can also help individuals understand how this anti-retaliation provision may apply to their circumstances.
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 12, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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