Three Montgomery County limits for regulated rentals since July 1

The annual allowance changed to 5.2% on July 1, 2026 and runs through June 30, 2027. On $2,000 rent, that is $104 more a month, as an example, not a prediction.

This is not every renter's number: your increase can be higher if your landlord has unused increases from past years or special County approval, and unregulated units are not capped by it at all.

Pet rent can be no more than $26.23/mo per pet, and a refundable pet deposit can be up to $314.88. These are maximum allowed amounts for covered rentals; an existing charge does not automatically rise. A landlord may still deduct for damage under the lease and deposit rules.

If building staff handle a lockout at a regulated rental, they can charge up to $26.23. If they call an outside locksmith, they can charge you the actual bill, but not both for the same lockout.

Separately, your landlord must give written notice at least 90 days before raising rent or a fee. That rule covers County-licensed rentals even when the rent limit does not apply.

These limits cover regulated rentals in Montgomery County's rent-stabilization program. Usually the rental must have a County license, have been built in 2003 or earlier, and have no exemption. The County's estimate that nearly 6 in 10 licensed units are regulated is an estimate, not a per-building answer.

Rockville, Gaithersburg, Takoma Park, Barnesville, and Laytonsville are outside the County program (they may have their own rules). The 90-day notice rule is broader: it covers County-licensed rentals even when the rent limit does not apply.