Maryland: Landlord Entry Notice Requirements

Requirements one by one

Governing law

Maryland's entry rule is new. Until recently the state had no statute at all on when a
landlord could enter an occupied rental — the lease and the implied covenant of quiet
enjoyment did all the work, and only Prince George's County had a local ordinance. That
changed with House Bill 1076, enacted as 2025 Md. Laws ch. 564, which added Real
Property § 8-221 effective October 1, 2025. If you signed a lease before that date,
the statute still applies to entries happening now — it is current law statewide.

Advance notice required

The core rule is a hard one: a landlord "shall provide written notice to the tenant at
least 24 hours in advance of the time that the landlord intends to enter"
(§ 8-221(c)(1)). Unlike states that treat 24 hours as a rebuttable presumption of
reasonableness, Maryland states it as a flat minimum. The only way it shrinks is if the
tenant agrees, in writing, to a shorter lead time (§ 8-221(c)(5)).

Reasons a landlord may enter

Section 8-221(a) lists the purposes: completing repairs, maintenance, modifications,
renovations, or improvements; inspecting; showing the unit to prospective or actual
purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, or contractors; ensuring the protection and safety of
the property and occupants; completing work ordered by a government entity; and, "if
appropriate," responding to any other written request of the tenant. That last catch-all
is tied to the tenant's own request — it is not a general license to enter for unlisted
reasons.

Permitted hours

Entry is confined to "between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through
Saturday, or another time agreed on, in writing, by the tenant" (§ 8-221(b)(1)(ii)).
That means no Sunday entries and no evening entries without the tenant's written
agreement — an emergency being the exception.

When no notice is needed

The statute's single no-notice exception is a genuine emergency: a landlord may enter
without notice "to ensure the imminent protection or preservation of the property, the
imminent protection and safety of any occupants, or the health, safety, and welfare of
other tenants and staff" (§ 8-221(b)(2)). Note what is not on the list — Maryland's
statute does not separately carve out tenant-consent-at-the-door or abandonment the way
some URLTA states do. A tenant can still shorten the 24-hour lead time by agreeing in
writing (§ 8-221(c)(5)).

Form and delivery of the notice

The written notice must state "the date and approximate time that the landlord intends to
enter" and "the specific purpose of entry" (§ 8-221(c)(2)). It has to be delivered one of
three ways (§ 8-221(c)(3)): first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, if sent at
least 24 hours before the entry time; a paper notice affixed to the door; or, only if the
tenant elects it, electronic delivery by email, text, or an accessible tenant portal —
and electronic delivery has to give the landlord proof of transmission.

Tenant's remedies for unlawful entry

A tenant enforces the statute in court by showing either an entry "in violation of this
section" or "repeated demands for entry" that don't comply (§ 8-221(d)(1)). The court
"may issue an injunction to the landlord, assess appropriate damages against the landlord
for breach of the tenant's covenant to quiet enjoyment ..., or both" (§ 8-221(d)(2)). The
landlord is on the hook for violations by an agent acting at the landlord's direction
(§ 8-221(e)). The obligation runs both ways: once a tenant reports a housing code
violation, the tenant must give the landlord access within 24 hours (§ 8-221(f)).

What trips people up

The 24 hours is a floor, not a suggestion. Because § 8-221(c)(1) requires "at least
24 hours" in writing, a landlord who texts an hour before showing up — without the
tenant's written agreement to a shorter time — has not given valid notice, even for a
routine repair.

Sunday and after-7 p.m. entries need written tenant consent. The permitted window is
7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday (§ 8-221(b)(1)(ii)). Anything outside that
requires the tenant's written agreement or a real emergency.

Electronic notice is the tenant's option, not the landlord's default. Email or text
notice is valid only "if elected by the tenant" and only with proof of transmission
(§ 8-221(c)(3)(iii), (4)). A landlord cannot unilaterally switch to texting.

Common questions

When did Maryland's 24-hour entry-notice law start? October 1, 2025. Real Property
§ 8-221, added by 2025 ch. 564, is the first statewide Maryland statute on landlord
entry; before it, the lease and quiet-enjoyment principles governed.

Can my landlord enter on a Sunday? Not without your written agreement. The statute
limits entry to 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, unless you agree in writing to
another time — an emergency aside (§ 8-221(b)).

What can I do if my landlord keeps entering without proper notice? You can go to
court. On a showing of an entry that violates the section or "repeated demands for entry"
that don't comply, the court may issue an injunction, award damages for breach of your
quiet enjoyment, or both (§ 8-221(d)).

Do I have to let the landlord in if I complained about a repair? Yes, promptly — if
you allege a housing code violation, you must provide access within 24 hours of notifying
the landlord (§ 8-221(f)).

Statutes and sources

• Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-221 — Maryland's landlord-entry statute (effective Oct. 1, 2025): the enumerated entry purposes (a); the 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday–Saturday hours and the emergency no-notice exception (b); the 24-hour written-notice requirement, required contents, delivery methods, and written waiver of the lead time (c); the injunction/quiet-enjoyment-damages remedy (d); landlord liability for agents (e); and the tenant's 24-hour access duty after alleging a code violation (f).
  https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp&section=8-221&enactments=false (accessed 2026-07-11)