Typical residential security deposit amount a landlord holds and later accounts for on a return statement in Maryland (2026)
A typical Maryland range, the local factors behind it, and the tools to price your own project.
Reviewed for 2026, updated September 8, 2026.
What drives the cost in Maryland
Maryland deposits run above the national typical range in the Washington suburbs of Montgomery and Prince George's counties and near Baltimore, and lower on the Eastern Shore and in western Maryland. State law recently reduced the deposit cap to about one month's rent as we understand it, requires interest at a state-set formula on deposits held more than a few months, sets a 45-day return window with itemized statements, gives tenants a right to attend the move-out inspection on request, and allows up to triple damages, so confirm the current rules. Humid summers and Chesapeake Bay exposure bring mold and moisture issues that are mostly climate driven.
Tips for Maryland buyers
- Calculate interest with the state's published formula and show it as its own line; the rate changes, so do not reuse an old number.
- Honor a tenant's written request to be present at the move-out inspection and schedule it within the statutory window.
- Confirm the current cap before setting a deposit on a new lease, since the limit changed recently.
Ranges are hedged planning estimates derived from a national typical range and a local index, not quotes. A typical single deposit on a market-rate residential rental is commonly around one month's rent, which puts most deposits somewhere in this range; actual amounts vary widely with local rents, unit size, pets, and state caps, and this is a working reference rather than a survey figure.
Price your project
- Deposit Deduction Depreciation Calculator: Estimates how much of a carpet, paint, blind, or appliance replacement a landlord can fairly deduct from a security deposit once the item's age and normal wear are taken into account.
- Security Deposit Refund Statement Calculator: Adds up the deposit held, any interest owed, and each itemized deduction to show the exact refund due to the tenant or the balance the tenant still owes.
- Late Deposit Return Penalty Exposure Calculator: Shows landlords how many days remain before a state return deadline and what missing it could cost when a statute allows forfeited deductions or multiplied damages.