Maryland Rent Stabilization: Who Is Actually Covered
Program and regulatory figures verified July 24, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
Rent control is the most misunderstood Maryland investor topic, because two big counties dominate the news while the largest rental city, Baltimore, has no cap at all. Here is who is covered and by how much.
Does Maryland have statewide rent control?
No. Only Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and the City of Takoma Park regulate rent increases in Maryland; everywhere else, including Baltimore City and Baltimore County, rent and increases are set by the lease. There is no statewide cap and no statewide just-cause eviction rule outside those stabilized jurisdictions. For an investor, that means your rent-growth assumptions depend entirely on which jurisdiction the property sits in, so confirm it before you underwrite.
Montgomery County's cap
Montgomery County caps the annual rent increase at the lesser of the regional CPI-U plus 3%, or 6%. For the cycle running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, the allowable cap is 5.2% (a 2.2% CPI-U print plus 3%). The number resets every July 1 off the new CPI-U figure, so a specific percentage carries an as-of date. We treat 5.2% as the current-cycle figure verified July 2026; confirm the live number with the county's Department of Housing and Community Affairs before you send a notice.
Prince George's County's cap
Prince George's County caps rent increases under its Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act, effective October 17, 2024. The structure is the lesser of 6% or CPI-U plus 3% for general units, with a lower cap for senior housing. The county's Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement publishes the coming year's cap annually. Confirm the current-cycle percentage with the county before you model rent growth; the structure is settled, but the live number resets each cycle and we do not publish a specific figure that may be stale.
Takoma Park
Takoma Park runs Maryland's oldest continuously-in-effect rent law, adopted in 1981. Its allowance tracks the annual change in the regional CPI-W, with the cycle running July 1 through June 30; the allowance for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 was 2.4%. It covers multi-family rental and rental-condo units, with new construction exempt and certain affordable and government-contracted units able to seek exemption. A policy review of the ordinance was underway in mid-2026, so re-check coverage rules before relying on them.
Exemptions and the Baltimore corrective
Two things investors most often get wrong. First, newly-built multifamily carries a new-construction exemption window in Montgomery, Prince George's, and Takoma Park, and both counties allow petitions or exemptions tied to government-subsidized or voucher-assisted units; the exact windows vary, so do not assume a specific number of years. Second, and most important, Baltimore City and Baltimore County set no cap on rent increases at all. The widely-repeated claim that Baltimore has rent control is simply wrong; only a 90-day written notice is required before an increase on leases longer than one month. If your strategy depends on rent growth, Baltimore gives you room the stabilized counties do not. This is regulatory information, not legal advice; confirm your property's status with the jurisdiction or a Maryland attorney.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Maryland have statewide rent control?
No. Only Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and the City of Takoma Park regulate rent increases in Maryland; the rest of the state, including Baltimore City and Baltimore County, does not. There is also no statewide just-cause eviction rule outside those stabilized jurisdictions. Your rent-growth assumptions should follow the specific jurisdiction the property sits in.
Does Baltimore City have rent control?
No. Baltimore City and Baltimore County set no cap on rent increases; rent is governed by the lease, and only a 90-day written notice is required before an increase on leases longer than one month. The assumption that Baltimore has rent control is common but wrong, driven by Montgomery and Prince George's dominating Maryland rent-control news.
What is the maximum rent increase allowed in Montgomery County in 2026?
5.2% for the cycle running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, calculated as a 2.2% regional CPI-U print plus 3%, capped at the lesser of that or 6%. The figure resets every July 1 off the new CPI-U print, so it carries an as-of date. Confirm the live number with the county's Department of Housing and Community Affairs before sending a notice.
What is Prince George's County's rent stabilization cap?
Generally the lesser of 6% or CPI-U plus 3% for general units, with a lower cap for senior housing, under the Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act effective October 17, 2024. The county publishes the coming year's cap annually, so confirm the current-cycle percentage with the county before modeling rent growth. The structure is settled; the live number resets each cycle.
Are newly built apartments exempt from Maryland rent stabilization?
Typically yes. Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Takoma Park all carry a new-construction exemption window, and both counties allow petitions or exemptions tied to government-subsidized or voucher-assisted units. The exact exemption windows vary by jurisdiction, so confirm your building's status rather than assuming a specific number of years.
Mike Certo · NMLS #260555 · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender. Educational content, not a loan commitment and not legal or tax advice. City and county STR rules, tax figures, rent-stabilization caps, and filing fees change; verify current requirements with the jurisdiction, your CPA, or a Maryland real estate attorney before you buy. Loans are subject to buyer and property qualification.