Cal. Civ. Code § 7-220
Md. Code, Hous. & Cmty. Dev. — tenant-facing provisions (Titles 5, 7; §§ 4-2911, 4-2914, 4-2918)
Operative Text
(a) (1) After notice and public hearing, a political subdivision may find that, because of a protected action, a low-income and moderate-income rental housing emergency exists in all or part of its jurisdiction. (2) The political subdivision shall make findings as to: (i) the nature and incidence of protected actions; (ii) the resulting hardship to and displacement of tenants; and (iii) the scarcity of low-income and moderate-income rental housing. (b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, on finding that there is an emergency under this section, a political subdivision may enact a law, ordinance, or regulation to: (i) grant to a designated household a right to an extended lease for a period in addition to that granted under § 7-214 of this subtitle; or (ii) extend any other provision of this subtitle concerning extended leases. (2) A political subdivision may not require that: (i) more than 20% of assisted units in an assisted project be set aside for extended leases for designated households; or (ii) the term of an extended lease for any household made a designated household by the political subdivision exceed 3 years. (3) The political subdivision may require that the notice required under § 7-216(a)(3) of this subtitle be modified to disclose the effects of any actions taken under this section. (c) Within 10 days after enacting a law, ordinance, or regulation in accordance with this section, a political subdivision shall send a copy to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Housing and Community Development.
Maryland Code § 7-220 allows local governments (political subdivisions) to declare a low-income and moderate-income rental housing emergency when certain protected actions are causing tenant hardship and displacement. Once such an emergency is declared—following required public notice and a hearing—the locality may enact laws or regulations that extend lease rights for qualifying households beyond what the state statute already provides. However, the law places firm caps on these local measures: no more than 20% of assisted units in a project may be set aside for extended leases, and no locally granted extended lease may exceed three years. Any such local law must be filed with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Housing and Community Development within ten days of enactment.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 7-220, operators of assisted housing projects should be aware that their local government may declare a rental housing emergency and impose extended-lease requirements on top of those already established by state law. Compliant operators generally track whether their jurisdiction has enacted any such emergency ordinance, monitor the 20% cap on assisted units subject to extended leases, and ensure that lease terms for locally designated households do not exceed the three-year ceiling. Staying current with any required notice modifications under § 7-216(a)(3), as directed by a local emergency ordinance, is also part of standard compliance practice under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 7-220 creates a pathway for tenants in low- and moderate-income rental housing to receive additional lease protections when their local government formally declares a housing emergency. If your locality has enacted an ordinance under this provision, qualifying households—referred to as 'designated households'—may be entitled to an extended lease beyond what state law alone provides. Tenants who believe they may qualify can check with their local housing or community development office to learn whether an emergency declaration is in effect, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain how any locally enacted extended-lease rules interact with the broader protections of this subtitle.
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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