Maryland · Landlord-tenant dispute
Landlord-tenant dispute in Maryland small claims
Unpaid rent, withheld deposit, or property damage? Resolve it in small claims.
Landlord-tenant disputes over money — unpaid rent, a withheld deposit, damage charges, or a landlord's failure to make repairs you paid for — often end up in small claims court. The key to a strong case is a clear paper trail: your lease, rent receipts, move-in and move-out documentation, and all written communication with the other party. You do not need a lawyer to present this kind of claim.
In Maryland, small-claims cases are heard in the Small Claims division of the District Court of Maryland and you can sue for up to $5,000 (money only; claims from $5,001 to $30,000 are heard as regular District Court civil cases).
Good to know: Small claims are not a separate court; they are handled as a simplified, less formal track within the statewide District Court of Maryland. A case qualifies as a small claim only if it is for $5,000 or less, for money only (not return of property or performance of a service), and does not involve discovery. The District Court itself can hear civil claims up to $30,000; claims over $5,000 (up to $30,000) are tried as regular civil cases, not small claims.
Landlord-tenant dispute in Maryland: local specifics
Maryland small claims are money-only and do not allow discovery. A landlord-tenant case over money — rent, deposit, or damages — fits within the scope of the District Court's simplified small claims track.
Landlord-tenant dispute: steps that matter
- Gather your lease, all rent payment records, and any written communication between you and the other party about the dispute.
- Document the property's condition thoroughly — photos and videos at move-in, during the tenancy, and at move-out.
- Send a written demand stating exactly what you are claiming and why, and keep proof of delivery.
- Confirm whether your state has a separate, shorter statutory deadline for your specific claim (such as deposit return) with your court or local housing authority.
- File in the small claims court for the county where the rental property is located.
Filing your Civil Complaint (Form DC-CV-001) in Maryland
- File the Complaint (DC-CV-001). Complete the District Court Civil Complaint form (DC-CV-001), naming the correct defendant, and file it with the clerk at any District Court location. Forms are available at the clerk's office.
- Pay the filing fee. Pay the filing fee at the time of filing. Fee amounts are set by the District Court's Civil Cost Schedule (DCA-109); check the current schedule when you pick up your forms. If you cannot afford the fee, file a Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs (CC-DC-089).
- Choose a method of service and the court issues the Writ of Summons. On the Complaint, select how the defendant will be served (certified mail, sheriff, or private process). The court then issues a Writ of Summons to officially notify the defendant that a suit has been filed.
- Have the defendant served. Serve the defendant by one of the three methods. You may not serve the defendant yourself; service must be by certified mail (clerk mails it), the sheriff, or an uninvolved adult 18 or older / private process server.
- Submit Proof of Service. File proof that the defendant was served: the green certified-mail return receipt, or an affidavit of service (Proof of Service form DC-CV-002 / Affidavit of Service) for sheriff or private process. Trial is normally set within 60 days of when the complaint was filed.
Filing fees: Filing fees are set by the District Court Civil Cost Schedule (DCA-109); confirm the current amount with the clerk. A fee waiver (CC-DC-089) is available.
Deadline that applies to your landlord-tenant dispute
A landlord-tenant money dispute is usually grounded in the lease — a contract — so the contract statute of limitations is the typical outer deadline for filing. Many states also have separate landlord-tenant statutes with shorter deadlines for specific remedies such as security deposit return. Confirm which deadline applies to your exact claim with the court or your state's official landlord-tenant resource.
Written contract: 3 years (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101)
Answering a lawsuit: 15 days from the date the defendant receives the summons to file a Notice of Intention to Defend (60 days for out-of-state defendants and those with resident agents)
Serving the defendant: The plaintiff may not serve the defendant personally. There are three methods, selected by checking a box on the Complaint: (1) certified mail (the clerk creates the summons and mails it; the green return receipt is proof of service); (2) sheriff (hand delivery, returns an affidavit of service); or (3) private process (an uninvolved adult 18 or older, or a private company, hand-delivers the summons and files an affidavit of service).
Appeals: Either party may appeal to the Circuit Court by filing a Notice of Appeal (form DC-CV-037) in the District Court within 30 days after entry of judgment. A small claims appeal ($5,000 or less) is heard de novo, meaning a completely new trial in the Circuit Court (total appeal fee $175).
All Maryland small-claims deadlines
The table below lists the filing deadlines Small Claims division of the District Court of Maryland applies by claim category. Confirm the exact rule that applies to your landlord-tenant dispute claim with your court before relying on any figure.
| Claim type | Filing deadline |
|---|---|
| Written contract (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) | 3 years |
| Oral contract or debt (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) | 3 years |
| Property damage (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) | 3 years |
| Personal injury (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) | 3 years |
Maryland small-claims forms for your landlord-tenant dispute case
These forms are published by the Small Claims division of the District Court of Maryland. CaseBySelf can pre-fill them automatically from your case details.
- Complaint/Application and Affidavit in Support of Judgment: Starts a Maryland District Court small-claims case and supports affidavit/default judgment where applicable.
- Small Claims Brochure: Maryland Courts brochure explaining how to file a small claim in District Court.
- Request for Waiver of Costs: Requests waiver of Maryland court costs when a party cannot afford to prepay them.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and CaseBySelf is not a law firm. Rules, fees, and deadlines change and vary by court: verify with the specific court where you file. Source: Maryland Courts - Small Claims (District Court legal help). Last reviewed 2026-06-23.