What Landautomate does with this page
This guide is the reading version of our Maryland rule base. In the app, the same rules become dated tasks on each of your Maryland properties, timed to your purchase date, lease dates, property age, and climate, with an email before each one is due. The free preview shows a sample of that schedule for Maryland in under a minute, no account needed.
Preview the Maryland schedule
Maryland compliance obligations
Maryland landlords commonly track 6 state and local compliance obligations, each listed below with its schedule, its sources, and the date we last verified it. Among them: confirm MDE lead rental registration and renew by December 31 in renewal years, file Maryland SDAT annual report (Form 1) by April 15 (LLC or corporation), and inspect smoke and CO alarms and replace expired 10-year units.
Confirm MDE lead rental registration and renew by December 31 in renewal years
Pre-1978 Maryland rentals that are not certified lead-free must be registered with the Maryland Department of the Environment's lead rental registry and renewed every two years on or before December 31 of the renewal year at $75 per unit, and an owner who skips it faces a civil penalty of up to triple the unpaid fee and loses the law's liability protections, so check the registry each December and renew when your cycle is due.
Each year around December 31 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
File Maryland SDAT annual report (Form 1) by April 15 (LLC or corporation)
If the rental is held in an LLC, corporation, limited partnership, or other registered business entity (including an out-of-state LLC registered in Maryland), file its Annual Report (Form 1) with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation by April 15 with the $300 fee, or the entity falls out of good standing and can eventually be forfeited.
Each year around April 15 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Inspect smoke and CO alarms and replace expired 10-year units
Maryland makes the landlord responsible for installing, maintaining, and replacing smoke alarms, which must be replaced 10 years after their manufacture date or when they fail (battery-only units must be sealed, tamper-resistant long-life alarms with a hush button), requires carbon monoxide alarms outside each sleeping area and on every level of every rental unit, and gives landlords 5 calendar days to repair or replace a smoke alarm after a tenant's written notice, so a yearly check catches expired or missing alarms before they become violations.
Each year around October 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Pay Maryland property tax by September 30
Annual Maryland property tax bills are due September 30, after which interest and penalties accrue under each county's schedule.
Each year around September 30 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Renew your local rental license where your city or county requires one
Baltimore City requires every non-owner-occupied rental to be registered by January 1 each year and licensed on a two-year cycle with a passing inspection by a state-licensed, city-registered inspector, and several counties and cities also license or permit rentals, among them Baltimore, Montgomery, Prince George's, and Howard counties, so if your property is in a jurisdiction that does, confirm its registration and license or permit expiration dates and renew before they lapse, because Baltimore City bars an unlicensed owner from charging or collecting rent.
Each year around January 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Verify security deposit accounts and accrued interest
Maryland security deposits must be placed within 30 days in an interest-bearing account used only for deposits at a Maryland branch of a federally insured institution and returned within 45 days after the tenancy ends with interest at the greater of 1.5 percent or the 1-year Treasury rate set each January, so review each deposit account and its accrued interest yearly, and at move-out send any itemized damage list by first-class mail with proof such as certified mail, since a late or missing list forfeits the right to withhold and wrongful withholding can cost up to three times the amount.
Each year around January 15 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Seasonal maintenance for Maryland
Landlords in Maryland plan upkeep around a temperate climate: this guide lists 7 seasonal maintenance items for Maryland in calendar order, each with its timing and the date we last verified it. Among them: smoke and CO detector seasonal test, complete spring exterior and drainage inspection, and HVAC seasonal service.
Smoke and CO detector seasonal test
An annual full test of smoke and CO detectors (beyond battery swaps) confirms every alarm actually sounds.
Around March · Verified before August 2026
Complete spring exterior and drainage inspection
Maryland winters bring frequent freeze-thaw cycles, so an April walk around the roof, siding and trim paint, foundation and masonry, grading, and downspouts catches cracks, peeling paint, and loose pieces early and fixes drainage problems before the heavier rains of late spring and summer.
Each year around April 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
HVAC seasonal service
A shoulder-season HVAC service keeps heating and cooling efficient before temperature swings.
Around May · Verified before August 2026
Prepare for hurricane season, especially at coastal and tidal properties
Tropical storms can strike Maryland anytime in the June to November season and most often from mid-August to mid-October, bringing storm surge to Ocean City and the Chesapeake's tidal shores and flooding rain, wind damage, and widespread power outages inland, so checking roofs, gutters, sump pumps, drainage, and flood coverage by June 1 leaves time for repairs and for a new flood policy's 30-day waiting period.
Each year around June 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Service furnaces and heat pumps before heating season
A September service of the furnace or heat pump, including the burners, heat exchanger, and flue on gas or oil furnaces, catches failing equipment and carbon monoxide risks before Maryland's first freezes, which typically come in early October around Oakland in Garrett County, late October from Cumberland to Baltimore and Salisbury, and in November along the Chesapeake Bay, and before HVAC contractors get busy for winter.
Each year around September 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Winterize exterior plumbing before first freeze
Typical first freezes in Maryland range from early October around Oakland in Garrett County to late October from Cumberland to Baltimore and Salisbury and November along the Chesapeake Bay, so shutting off and draining outdoor hose bibs and sprinkler lines, removing hoses, and insulating pipes in unheated spaces by early October, then letting faucets on exposed pipes drip in very cold weather, helps prevent burst pipes and water damage.
Each year around October 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Clean gutters and check the roof after fall leaf drop
Maryland's leaves are mostly down by late November, western Maryland first and the Eastern Shore last, so an early December cleanout of gutters and downspouts, with downspouts discharging well away from the foundation, plus a look at shingles, flashing, and eaves keeps winter rain and snowmelt from overflowing at the roofline and soaking the basement.
Each year around December 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Baseline upkeep for every rental
Every rental needs the same baseline care regardless of state: this guide tracks 16 recurring upkeep items, each with its schedule and the date we last verified it. Among them: CPA tax document preparation, gutter inspection, and HVAC filter replacement.
CPA tax document preparation
Organized records make tax filing accurate and deductions defensible.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Gutter inspection
Clear gutters prevent water intrusion, foundation, and roof damage.
Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
HVAC filter replacement
Clean filters protect HVAC equipment and keep energy costs down.
Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Insurance renewal review
Confirms coverage limits and premiums still match the property risk.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
LLC annual filing prep
Keeps the ownership entity in good standing with state filings.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Lease renewal planning
Planning renewals ahead of time reduces vacancy and turnover costs.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Maintenance review
Keeps small maintenance issues from turning into expensive repairs.
Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Owner distribution check
Verifies owner cash distributions reconcile with rent and expenses.
Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Pest inspection
Early pest detection prevents structural damage and habitability complaints.
Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Property tax review
Reviewing assessments can surface appeal opportunities and budget changes.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Rent collection review
Confirms rent was received on time and surfaces collection issues early.
Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Rent increase review
Keeps rent aligned with market rates and local rent regulations.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Smoke detector battery check
Working smoke and CO detectors are a life-safety and legal requirement.
Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Utilities minimal-service verification
Confirms vacant-property utilities stay at minimal service so pipes, alarms, and sump pumps keep working.
Within 14 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Utility reconciliation
Catches billing errors and unexpected usage spikes on property utilities.
Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Vacant property security check
Regular walkthroughs of a vacant property deter break-ins, squatting, and unnoticed damage.
Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Common questions
What are the compliance requirements for Maryland landlords?
Our reviewed rule base currently lists 6 state and local compliance obligations that Maryland landlords commonly track. Among them: confirm MDE lead rental registration and renew by December 31 in renewal years, file Maryland SDAT annual report (Form 1) by April 15 (LLC or corporation), and inspect smoke and CO alarms and replace expired 10-year units. Each obligation shows its schedule, the sources it was checked against, and the date we last verified it. This guide is general information for planning reminders, not legal advice.
What seasonal maintenance should Maryland landlords plan for?
The Maryland guide lists 7 seasonal maintenance items timed to a temperate climate, in calendar order. Among them: smoke and CO detector seasonal test, complete spring exterior and drainage inspection, and HVAC seasonal service. Landautomate turns each item into a dated reminder on your property calendar so the work is planned before the season arrives.
What routine upkeep should every Maryland rental get?
Alongside state specific work, the Maryland guide tracks 16 baseline upkeep items that apply to nearly every rental. Among them: CPA tax document preparation, gutter inspection, and HVAC filter replacement. These recur on a regular schedule, and Landautomate schedules each one automatically for every property you add.
How does Landautomate verify Maryland landlord rules?
Every rule in the Maryland guide goes through human review before it is published, and each rule shows the date we last verified it. Each compliance obligation links the primary sources it was checked against. Laws and deadlines change, so if you believe something here is outdated or incorrect, contact us at support@landautomate.com and we will review it promptly.