Uncontested: 30–45 days ·
Contested: 45–120 days · Under Md. Real Prop. § 8 (Landlord and Tenant)
The Maryland eviction process requires a court-ordered judgment before a landlord can remove a tenant. Timeline figures below begin after the pre-filing notice period expires and the landlord files the complaint with the court. Add 3–60+ days for the applicable pre-filing notice period (pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or no-fault) depending on the eviction reason.
Each row's day-label is the cumulative start of that stage on the worst-case clock.
Pre-filingNoticeFileCourtLockout
10d
1
Stage 1 · Gate
10-day notice of intent (nonpayment)
Day 1
Written notice required since 2021. Must state rent owed and give 10 days to pay.
1–3d
2
Stage 2 · Serve
File Failure to Pay Rent complaint
Day 11
District Court, form DC-CV-082. Filing fee $15-$45. Baltimore City Rent Court files in dedicated calendar.
5–15d
3
Stage 3 · File
Service and 5-15 day trial
Day 14
Sheriff or process server delivers. Trial scheduled 5-15 days after service. Bench trial.
4d
4
Stage 4 · Court
Judgment and 4-day appeal window
Day 29
Judgment typically same day. Either party may appeal to Circuit Court within 4 days (unusually short).
30–60d
5
Stage 5 · Lockout
Warrant of restitution and lockout
Day 33
Sheriff executes warrant. Tenant may redeem (pay everything owed) up to the moment of lockout under § 8-401(d). Some counties run sheriff backlogs to 45-60 days.
Day 93
✓
Possession recovered
Worst case · Day 93
Timelines begin at court filing, not notice service.
The Maryland timelines above start when the landlord files the eviction complaint with the court.
Add pre-filing notice periods (3–60 days depending on eviction reason) to get the full end-to-end timeline.
Self-help eviction, changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities, is illegal in Maryland and exposes the landlord to significant damages.
About this page. Researched and written by the NextGen Properties research team — the underwriters, asset managers, and acquisitions staff who have priced, bought, and operated rental property for more than two decades. Reviewed before publication by the NextGen Properties editorial desk. How we work: editorial guidelines · scoring methodology.
