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Bill

HB 709

Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases and Holdover Tenancies - Local Good Cause Termination (Good Cause Eviction)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Nick Allen and 15 co-sponsors

HB 709 permits Maryland cities and counties to require landlords to have legally specified "good cause" before evicting residential tenants, replacing at-will evictions.

Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 709

Legislative bill overview

HB 709 would allow Maryland municipalities to establish local "good cause" eviction requirements, meaning landlords could only terminate residential leases for specified legally recognized reasons rather than at-will. The bill enables local jurisdictions to define what constitutes valid cause for eviction while setting statewide baseline protections.

Why is this important

This bill addresses housing stability for renters by limiting no-fault evictions, which disproportionately affect low-income households and contribute to displacement and homelessness. It represents a shift from Maryland's current at-will tenancy model toward tenant protections similar to those in California, Oregon, and other states that have adopted good cause eviction laws.

Potential points of contention

  • Landlord concerns: Property owners argue good cause requirements reduce their flexibility to manage properties, may decrease rental housing investment and availability, and could complicate lease enforcement or property transitions
  • Definition disputes: Disagreement over what constitutes "good cause" (e.g., non-payment, lease violations, owner occupancy, demolition) and whether protections adequately account for legitimate landlord needs
  • Local vs. state authority: Questions about whether this should be uniform statewide or left to municipal discretion, and whether local variation creates compliance complexity for multi-jurisdictional landlords

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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