Maryland law

Premises Liability Laws in Maryland.

Maryland premises-liability law applies a reasonable-care standard informed by visitor classification. Maryland is one of the few jurisdictions in the country — along with Virginia, D.C., Alabama, and North Carolina — that applies pure contributory negligence, meaning a plaintiff who is even slightly at fault may be barred from recovery. The 3-year general civil statute of limitations at Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 applies to most premises claims.

Last verified: 2026-04-17

State law

Statute of Limitations

3 yearsMd. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101

Premises-liability claims in Maryland must generally be filed within 3 years of the date the cause of action accrued.

State law

Fault & Liability Rules

Pure Contributory NegligenceMaryland common law

Maryland applies pure contributory negligence: a plaintiff whose own negligence contributed to the injury may be entirely barred from recovery, regardless of how small their share of fault. Narrow exceptions (like last clear chance) exist. Maryland is one of the few remaining pure contributory-negligence jurisdictions.

State law

Official Sources

Maryland General Assembly — Statutes Maryland Judiciary

Not Legal Advice

This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Maryland.

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Premises Liability Laws in Maryland.

Statute of Limitations

Fault & Liability Rules

Official Sources

Not Legal Advice

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