Up to $5,000 · 3 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Maryland, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the District Court (small claims), where you can sue for up to $5,000.
Your deadline: Maryland generally gives you 3 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $50 (About $36–$50 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405; deadlines: Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: General civil limit 3 yrs for contract, property damage, and personal injury (specialties differ).
Suing for something else in Maryland: Maryland unpaid loan · Maryland property damage · Maryland unpaid rent · Maryland contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Virginia ($5,000, 5 years) · District of Columbia ($10,000, 3 years) · Pennsylvania ($12,000, 4 years) · Delaware ($25,000, 3 years) · West Virginia ($10,000, 10 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026