Quick answer: A Maryland landlord must return the security deposit, with simple interest, within 45 days after the tenancy ends, less any damages rightfully withheld, and must mail a written list of the damages with an itemized statement of costs within the same 45 days. A landlord that misses the list forfeits the right to withhold for damages, and one that keeps money without a reasonable basis can owe up to three times the amount.
This Maryland security deposit return deadline calculator applies Md. Code, Real Property 8-203. Enter the date the tenancy ended, and the deposit and the date it was paid if you want the interest: it shows the deadline, the interest and what a wrongly kept amount can cost. It does not decide whether a deduction is allowed.
Maryland security deposit return rules at a glance
| Rule | What Maryland says |
|---|---|
| Return deadline | 45 days after the end of the tenancy (Md. Code, Real Prop. 8-203(e)(1)) |
| Interest | Simple, at the greater of the 1-year Treasury rate or 1.5% a year; only if held 6 months, in full months, on deposits of $50 or more (8-203(e)) |
| Damage list | Mailed by first-class mail within 45 days, with itemized costs and documentation (8-203(g), (j)) |
| Late list | Forfeits the right to withhold for damages (8-203(g)(2)) |
| Penalty | Up to three times the amount withheld without a reasonable basis, plus attorney’s fees (8-203(e)(4)) |
| Evicted or left early | Written demand within 45 days; landlord has 45 days from the demand (8-203(h)) |
| Move-out inspection | Certified-mail notice at least 15 days before moving; inspection within 5 days of the move date (8-203(f)) |
| Time to sue | During the tenancy or within 2 years after it ends (8-203(b)(4)) |
How does the Maryland deposit return deadline work?
- The 45 days and the interest. See how long a landlord has to return a security deposit in Maryland.
- The damage list and what can be kept. See Maryland security deposit deductions.
- The move-out inspection, the forwarding address and the penalty. See the Maryland move-out inspection and deposit penalty.
What does this deposit calculator check?
It adds 45 days to the date the tenancy ended and moves the last day off a Sunday or legal holiday, as Maryland counts statutory days (Md. Code, General Provisions 1-302). For a tenant who was evicted or left early it counts 45 days from the written demand instead. It counts only full months for the interest and uses the greater of the Treasury rate you enter and 1.5%. The state housing department publishes the Treasury rates, so check the one for the year. How much a landlord may collect is a separate question: see the Maryland security deposit limit calculator.
Related Maryland landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the Maryland security deposit limit calculator for the most a landlord may ask for as a deposit, the Maryland eviction notice calculator for the notice period before a lease can end and the Maryland eviction timeline calculator for the earliest legal dates once an eviction case starts. Each one cites its own Maryland statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Maryland landlord have to return a security deposit?
Forty-five days after the end of the tenancy.
Does a Maryland landlord owe interest on the deposit?
Yes, simple interest at the greater of the 1-year Treasury rate and 1.5% a year, if the deposit was held at least 6 months, for full months, on deposits of $50 or more.
What must the landlord send if it keeps part of the deposit?
A written list of the damages with an itemized statement of the costs and supporting documentation, by first-class mail within 45 days.
What if the landlord misses the 45 days?
It forfeits the right to withhold for damages, and one that keeps money without a reasonable basis can owe up to three times the amount plus attorney’s fees.
What if the tenant was evicted or moved out early?
The tenant must demand the deposit in writing within 45 days and give a new address; the landlord then has 45 days.
How long do I have to sue?
During the tenancy or within 2 years after it ends.