Landlord Entry Notice Requirements in Maryland

At a glance

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)