Maryland Rent Late Fee & Grace Period Calculator

Verified Primary Statute: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3) · Last Checked: 2026-11-01 Spot a law update? Report it

Monthly Rent Amount (USD)

Rent Due Day of Month

Payment Received Day

Late Fee Charged or In Lease (USD)

Late fee clause is written in the signed lease agreement (Mandatory under Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3); landlords cannot charge late fees on oral leases or without written disclosure).

Maryland Legal AssessmentLawful / Compliant Fee

Maximum Statutory Late Fee:

$90.00

Statutory safe harbor limit of 5% of monthly rent under Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3).

Statutory Grace Period:None (fees may assess the day after due date if lease allows)

Days Past Statutory Due Date:5 days

Fee Charged by Landlord:$75.00

Governing Authority:Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3)

Maryland Late Fee Laws at a Glance (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3))

Maryland state law does not mandate a universal grace period unless provided in the lease agreement, though late fees cannot be assessed until after rent is formally overdue.

Mandatory Grace Period	No statutory grace period (governed by written lease terms)
Maximum Statutory Fee Limit	Under Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3), late fees are strictly limited to no more than 5% of the amount of rent due for the period for which the payment is delinquent.
Written Lease Clause Required?	Yes — Mandatory under state law
Primary Governing Statute	Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3) ↗

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Key Maryland Statutory Nuances & Legal Precedents

Strict 5% Statutory Cap: Under Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3), a landlord cannot charge a late fee in excess of 5% of the delinquent rent amount.
Weekly Lease Rule: For weekly tenancies, late fees are capped at per week or a maximum of per month under § 8-208(d)(3)(ii).
Prohibited Lease Provisions: Any lease clause attempting to charge late fees exceeding 5% is void and unenforceable under Maryland law.

Worked Statutory Calculation

Baltimore Excessive Late Fee Penalty

Monthly Rent:

$1,500

Payment Day:

Day 8

Fee Charged:

$125

Max Legal Fee:

$75

For a monthly rent of ,500, the landlord charged a late fee. Under Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3), the legal limit is 5% (). The tenant is owed a credit or refund for the unlawful excess.

Maryland Rent Late Fee & Grace Period FAQs

What is the maximum late fee allowed by Maryland law?

Under Maryland Real Property Code § 8-208(d)(3), late fees cannot exceed 5% of the delinquent rent amount for that rental period.

Does Maryland have a statutory rent grace period?

Maryland state law does not establish an automatic grace period; however, many local rental agreements provide 5 days. Without a lease grace clause, rent is technically past due after the 1st.

What is the late fee limit for weekly rentals in Maryland?

For rent paid on a weekly basis, Maryland statute caps late fees at per week, with a monthly maximum of .

Can a Maryland landlord evict a tenant for unpaid late fees alone?

No. Maryland summary ejectment proceedings (Failure to Pay Rent) apply to unpaid base rent. Late fees cannot be treated as base rent to trigger immediate eviction.