If you rent a home in Anne Arundel County, or you own one that you lease to someone else, the rules of eviction changed on July 1. The new Anne Arundel County eviction law gives renters 14 days of notice before an eviction instead of six, and it ends the long-criticized practice of piling a family's belongings on the curb for neighbors to see. Supporters call it a step toward dignity. Critics say one part of it may be unconstitutional.
The controversy centers on what happens to a renter's property after the locks change. Under the ordinance, anything left inside the home is considered abandoned, and the landlord can dispose of it or even sell it. There is no reclamation period, meaning no window of time after the eviction in which the tenant can return and collect what they own.
Glen Burnie attorney Tom Maronick Jr., who practices law in Anne Arundel County and owns rental properties there himself, shared his perspective on the new law with The Daily Record and WMAR-2 News. His comments capture what makes this ordinance so notable. It is a hard-fought compromise that still leaves a serious legal question unanswered. If you have questions about how the new eviction rules affect you as a renter or a property owner, call Maronick Law LLC at 443-551-2747or reach out through our online contact form for a free consultation.
Anne Arundel County Eviction Ordinance: What Exactly Changed On July 1?
The ordinance makes two major changes to the eviction process in Maryland's Anne Arundel County. First, landlords must now give renters 14 days of notice before an eviction, more than double the six days required before. Second, landlords can no longer set a renter's belongings out on the sidewalk, where they were exposed to theft, weather, and the judgment of passersby.
Here is the catch. Once the eviction is complete and the door is locked, everything left inside the home is legally treated as abandoned. The landlord must wait 24 hours before disposing of or selling the property, but the renter has no right to enter the home during those 24 hours, and the landlord has no obligation to return anything. Lee Ogburn of Maryland Legal Aid told The Daily Record that he sees the 24-hour period as serving no meaningful purpose.
The final version of the bill reflects a compromise. An earlier draft included a six-day reclamation period that would have let tenants recover their belongings after the eviction without paying rent or fees for those days. That provision was removed after advocacy from the Maryland Multi-Housing Association, a group representing landlords. Matthew Pipkin, the association's government and community affairs manager, called the change a reasonable compromise and argued that a free six-day extension would amount to a taking from housing providers who have often gone more than 60 days without rent.
County Council Chair Julie Hummer, who sponsored the bill, said her goal was to add dignity to a process that is already traumatic. She said she tried hard to keep a reclamation period in the bill but cited safety concerns if a renter returns to the property without a member of the sheriff's office present. The law does not apply within the city limits of Annapolis, although the city is considering a similar change of its own.
Tenant Belongings After Eviction In Maryland: Why Are Lawyers Raising Due Process Concerns?
Attorneys who represent renters say the way the ordinance handles personal property violates the constitutional right to due process. Lisa Sarro, director of litigation and advocacy at Community Legal Services, which represents renters in eviction cases in Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties, put it bluntly. She called it a government taking of a personal property interest without due process of law.
Timing makes the concern sharper. Sarro noted that eviction court dates are set faster in Anne Arundel County than anywhere else in Maryland. Most renters learn of their hearings only a day or two in advance, and some find out on the way to work that their hearing is that same day. She described the combination of rapid hearings and no reclamation period as a double-whammy of lack of due process.
There is real legal history behind these warnings. Two years ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld a $186,000 damages award to a Baltimore woman who lost many of her belongings in an eviction. The court found that Baltimore City violated her due process rights by giving her no notice that her property would be deemed abandoned and no opportunity to contest the loss. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III wrote that a reclamation period of any length, even a few hours, would have allowed her to retrieve her belongings.
The challenges have not stopped there. Last month, Maryland Legal Aid sued Baltimore County over a similar law that deems property abandoned at the moment of eviction. Hummer said she studied the Fourth Circuit opinion and believes the Anne Arundel ordinance is constitutional because it provides 14 days of notice and warns renters that their belongings will be considered abandoned. Whether that distinction holds up may ultimately be a question for the courts.
Tom Maronick On The New Eviction Law: What Did He Tell The Daily Record?
Few voices in this debate can see the issue from as many angles as Tom Maronick Jr. He is an Anne Arundel County-based lawyer with two decades of courtroom experience, and he also owns rental properties, which means he understands what an eviction costs a landlord as well as what it takes from a tenant.
Speaking with The Daily Record, Maronick said he supported the bill overall. The extended 14-day notice gives renters a fair chance to prepare, and the ban on leaving property outside ends a practice that served no one well. Those changes, in his view, are real improvements to the eviction process in Anne Arundel County.
But he did not stop there. Maronick said he would prefer the law to include a reclamation period, and that without one, the ordinance looks a great deal like the Baltimore City law the Fourth Circuit struck down and the Baltimore County law now being challenged. Asked whether the Anne Arundel ordinance resembles those laws, he answered, "I think it's similar, absolutely."
Speaking with WMAR-2 News, he put the human stakes in plainer terms: "It's humanizing for one thing," he said, "to have a tenant who may have been there a long time who may have fallen on hard times to then see their property thrown out in the street… it's pretty terrible.”
That candor is worth pausing on. A property owner might be expected to cheer a law that lets landlords clear out a unit quickly. Instead, Maronick's assessment tracks the legal reality: a short window for tenants to recover their belongings protects renters from devastating losses, and it may also protect landlords and the county from the kind of six-figure liability the Fourth Circuit upheld in Baltimore.
Maryland Legal Analyst Tom Maronick Jr.: Where Else Has His Commentary Appeared?
The Daily Record feature is the latest in a long line of media appearances for Maronick, who worked in journalism before he ever set foot in a courtroom. He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park, and still writes newspaper columns and hosts a weekly radio show.
As an attorney, he has become a go-to legal analyst for national and local outlets alike. His commentary has appeared on ABC's Nightline, Fox News' Fox & Friends, and NBC's Dateline, as well as in The New York Sun and The Baltimore Sun. He continues to host a weekly radio program.
Reporters seek him out for the same reason clients do. He explains complicated legal issues in plain English, without spin and without overselling. His comments on the Anne Arundel eviction ordinance reflect that approach: credit where the law gets it right, and a clear-eyed warning where it may fall short.
Eviction Rights In Anne Arundel County: What Should Renters And Landlords Do Now?
Whether you are facing an eviction or carrying one out, the new ordinance changes what you need to do and when. Here are practical steps to take under the new law.
- Read every notice carefully: The 14-day eviction notice now marks the start of your window to act, not a formality to set aside
- Show up for your court date: Most eviction cases end in default judgments because the renter never appears, and the hearing is often your only chance to be heard
- Move important items first: Identification, medications, financial records, and irreplaceable keepsakes should leave the property well before the scheduled eviction date
- Photograph what you own: A dated record of your belongings can matter if a dispute over lost property arises later
- Follow the ordinance to the letter: Landlords should honor the 14-day notice, the 24-hour waiting period, and the ban on placing property outside
- Talk to a lawyer early: Renters and landlords both face new obligations, and a short conversation can prevent a costly mistake
These steps matter across the county, whether you rent near the courthouse in Annapolis, own property along Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie, or manage units closer to the Baltimore line. And because the ordinance is new and already drawing constitutional criticism, the rules could shift again if a court challenge succeeds.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Anne Arundel County Eviction Law
How Much Notice Does A Landlord Have To Give Before An Eviction In Anne Arundel County?
As of July 1, landlords in Anne Arundel County must give renters 14 days of notice before an eviction, up from the six days previously required. The notice must also warn renters that any belongings left inside will be considered abandoned.
Can I Get My Belongings Back After An Eviction In Anne Arundel County?
Under the new law, no. Once the eviction is complete, anything left inside the home is treated as abandoned, and the landlord can dispose of it or sell it after 24 hours. There is no reclamation period, so the safest course is to remove everything you value before the eviction date.
Does The New Eviction Law Apply In Annapolis?
No. The ordinance does not apply within the City of Annapolis, which handles these matters under its own rules. The city is considering a similar change, so renters and landlords there should watch for updates.
Why Do Lawyers Say The Anne Arundel Eviction Law May Be Unconstitutional?
Renters' attorneys argue that deeming property abandoned without giving tenants a chance to reclaim it is a taking without due process. The Fourth Circuit struck down a similar Baltimore City ordinance and upheld $186,000 in damages, and Maryland Legal Aid is now challenging a comparable Baltimore County law.
What Should Landlords In Maryland Do To Stay Compliant?
Follow the ordinance precisely: provide the full 14-day notice, keep belongings locked inside rather than placing them outdoors, and observe the 24-hour waiting period before disposing of anything. Given the pending legal challenges to similar laws, landlords should also consider speaking with a Maryland attorney before disposing of tenant property.
Maronick Law LLC: Where Can You Get Answers About Maryland's Changing Eviction Rules?
The Anne Arundel County eviction law is brand new, the case law around tenant property is still developing, and the stakes on both sides are high. A renter can lose everything they own in a single afternoon. A landlord who misreads the ordinance can face a lawsuit that dwarfs any unpaid rent.
Tom Maronick Jr. and the team at Maronick Law LLC serve clients from offices in Glen Burnie, Baltimore, Towson, and across Maryland. If you have questions about the new eviction ordinance, your rights as a renter, or your obligations as a property owner, call Maronick Law LLC today at 443-551-2747 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.