Maryland self-storage nonrenewal law 2026: what HB 618 changes

Maryland self storage nonrenewal law 2026 (HB 618 / SB 438): from 1 July 2026, written notice, 30 days to remove property, then a 10-day disposal notice.

From 1 July 2026, a Maryland self-storage operator that decides not to renew a rental agreement must follow a fixed sequence: deliver a written notice of nonrenewal, give the occupant at least 30 days (and at least until the end of the current term) to clear the unit, and then deliver a separate notice of intent to dispose at least 10 days before disposing of anything left behind. The rules come from HB 618 (Chapter 216 of 2026) and its cross-filed twin SB 438 (Chapter 215 of 2026), both signed on 28 April 2026. They amend the Maryland Self-Service Storage Act (Commercial Law Article, Title 18, Subtitle 5) and apply to every self-service storage facility in the state and to every rental agreement, paper or electronic.

What changed, in one table

Why the law was passed

Before 1 July 2026 the Act gave operators a statutory route for one problem only: unpaid rent. Section 18-504 lets an operator sell the contents of a unit at a lien sale once the occupant has been in default for more than 60 days. There was no statutory process for an occupant who paid on time but broke other rules (prohibited items, living in the unit, abusive conduct), or for an operator that simply wanted the unit back at the end of the term. The Maryland Self Storage Association describes the bill as providing "a process to address an occupant's failure to comply with core provisions of the rental agreement outside of the payment obligation." Self-Storage Legal calls it "a non-monetary termination" that avoids a court eviction.

The statute itself does not use the word "termination" and does not require a reason. It regulates nonrenewal of the rental agreement at the end of its term, whatever the motive. Other laws that govern why you choose not to renew a customer, such as anti-discrimination rules, are untouched by the Act.

Who and what the Act covers

The definitions in 18-501 changed by two words. A "self-service storage facility" is any real property used for renting individual storage spaces in which the occupants themselves store and remove their own property. An "operator" includes the owner, lessor, an agent or anyone authorized to manage the facility. An "occupant" includes a sublessee, successor or assign. And from 1 July 2026:

"Rental agreement" means any written or electronic agreement that establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, or rules concerning the use and occupancy of a self-service storage facility. (Commercial Law 18-501(h))

Two other definitions drive the notice rules. "Last known address" is the postal or email address the occupant gave in the rental agreement or in a later written change-of-address notice (18-501(c)). "Verified mail" is "any method of mailing that is offered by the United States Postal Service or private delivery service that provides evidence of mailing" (18-501(j)).

The nonrenewal process step by step

Step 1: written notice of nonrenewal

Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, an occupant may not use a self-service storage facility beyond the term of a rental agreement after the operator or occupant has delivered in person, by e-mail, or by verified mail written notice of the nonrenewal of the rental agreement. (Commercial Law 18-502(c)(1))

Three delivery methods and no others: in person, email or verified mail. Ordinary first-class mail with no evidence of mailing is not on the list, and neither is a text message. The bold clause in 18-503(b)(5) also expects the notice to state a date by which the property must be removed. What the notice should contain is covered in the notice requirements guide.

Step 2: the 5-day email check

If you email the notice and get neither a reply from the occupant's email address nor a confirmation of delivery within 5 days after delivery, you "shall promptly send a second notice of nonrenewal to the occupant by verified mail to the occupant's last known postal address" (18-502(c)(2)).

Step 3: at least 30 days, and at least to the end of the term

The operator shall provide the occupant with not less than 30 days after delivery of the notice of the nonrenewal of the rental agreement and at least until the end of the term of the rental agreement to remove all personal property from the self-service storage facility. (Commercial Law 18-502(d))

Both conditions apply. If the term ends before the 30 days are up, the occupant still gets the full 30 days. If the term ends later than 30 days after delivery, the occupant has until the end of the term.

Step 4: notice of intent to dispose, at least 10 days before disposal

Once the period in step 3 has run, and at least 10 days before you dispose of anything still in the unit, you must deliver a notice of intent to dispose, again in person, by email or by verified mail (18-502(e)(2)). The same 5-day email check applies (18-502(e)(3)). Until both periods have elapsed, "the operator may not dispose of any personal property remaining at the self-service storage facility" (18-502(e)(1)).

The shortest lawful path from delivering the nonrenewal notice to disposal is therefore 40 days. The 30-day, 10-day and 5-day clocks guide works through dated examples.

The new paragraph in your rental agreement

Section 18-503(b) already required a statement "in bold type" telling the occupant about the operator's lien, the possibility of a lien sale, towing of vehicles and watercraft after 60 days of default, and how a sale will be advertised. The 2026 Act adds a fifth item:

(5) That if the operator does not renew the rental agreement, the operator shall, in accordance with § 18-502 of this subtitle, deliver written notice advising the occupant to remove all personal property from the self-service storage facility by the date stated in the notice. (Commercial Law 18-503(b)(5))

The statute fixes the substance and the formatting (bold type), not the exact words. See the rental agreement bold clause guide for placement, wording and what to do about agreements signed before 1 July 2026.

Nonrenewal is not a lien sale

Keep the two tracks apart:

The Act does not say what happens to the proceeds, if any, when property is disposed of under 18-502, and it does not say that the disposal has to be a sale.

What the Act does not say

The gaps matter as much as the rules:

• No reason for nonrenewal is required or restricted.
• No content is prescribed for either notice beyond "written notice of the nonrenewal" and, through 18-503(b)(5), a removal date.
• "Delivery" is not defined for 18-502. Section 18-504(i)(2) deems lien notices delivered when deposited with the postal service or sent by email, but that rule is written for notices under 18-504.
• The Act does not say whether the 30 days restart when a verified-mail second notice follows an unconfirmed email. The cautious reading is to count from the later delivery.
• No method of disposal, no rule on proceeds, no penalty for skipping a step, and no transition rule for agreements signed before 1 July 2026.
• No state agency has published guidance or forms as of September 2026. The Fiscal and Policy Note lists the Office of the Attorney General (Consumer Protection Division) as an information source, but the Note contains no compliance guidance. The Self Storage Association said it would update its "Maryland Self Storage Lien Law Annotated" before 1 July 2026.

HB 618 and SB 438: two chapters, one text

The House and Senate bills were cross-filed and passed without a dissenting vote: HB 618 by 134 to 0 in the House and 42 to 0 in the Senate, SB 438 by 45 to 0 in the Senate and 136 to 0 in the House. The Governor signed both on 28 April 2026. SB 438 became Chapter 215 and HB 618 became Chapter 216 of the 2026 Laws of Maryland.

The enacted text of the two chapters is identical. The only visible differences in the chapter prints are traces of the amendment history: HB 618 as introduced had an effective date of 1 October 2026, which was amended to 1 July 2026, and an earlier version of SB 438 carried an extra "10 days" inside 18-502(e)(1) that was struck before passage. Neither difference survives into the Code, and the statute text published by the General Assembly already shows the amended 18-502 and 18-503.

Key dates

Next steps

• Add the 18-503(b)(5) statement, in bold type, to your rental agreement and to an addendum for occupants who signed before 1 July 2026.
• Draft two templates: a nonrenewal notice that states a removal date, and a notice of intent to dispose.
• Decide how you will deliver notices, and how you will capture email replies and delivery confirmations for the 5-day check.
• Set up a log that records, for each nonrenewal, the delivery date and method, the 5-day check result, the 30-day date, the end of the term, the disposal notice date and the earliest disposal date.
• Keep the lien-sale procedure under 18-504 as a separate workflow for nonpayment.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Chapter 216 of 2026 (HB 618), Commercial Law - Self-Service Storage Facilities - Alterations, Maryland General Assembly
• Chapter 215 of 2026 (SB 438), Commercial Law - Self-Service Storage Facilities - Alterations, Maryland General Assembly
• HB 618 bill page, 2026 Regular Session, Maryland General Assembly
• SB 438 bill page, 2026 Regular Session, Maryland General Assembly
• Md. Code, Commercial Law 18-502 (as amended), Maryland General Assembly statute text
• Md. Code, Commercial Law 18-503 (as amended), Maryland General Assembly statute text
• Md. Code, Commercial Law 18-504 (lien sales), Maryland General Assembly statute text
• Fiscal and Policy Note, HB 618 (Third Reader, Revised), Maryland Department of Legislative Services
• Maryland Governor Signs Self-Storage Bills HB 618, SB 438, Inside Self-Storage
• Maryland: Self Storage Act Amended, Self-Storage Legal (Jeffrey J. Greenberger, 20 May 2026)
• Advocacy, Maryland Self Storage Association

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