A provision in Maryland's eviction reform bill eliminates multiple fee categories for mobile home park operators—and most owners haven't heard about it yet.
Most Maryland property owners operating mobile home parks have no idea that a significant restriction on their revenue streams is already law. Buried in SB729—a bill primarily focused on expanding access to legal counsel in eviction cases—is a provision that will prohibit park owners from collecting fees for pets, parking, amenities, administrative costs, utility connections, and installation or removal services. The effective date is October 1, 2026.
Under § 8A–402(b) of the bill (found on Page 18), mobile home park owners are barred from charging separate fees for a defined list of services and features. This means that if your current lease structure includes any of these fee categories—pet fees, parking fees, amenity fees, administrative fees, utility connection fees, or installation and removal fees—those revenue streams become prohibited in less than two years.
The provision applies to mobile home parks specifically, not all rental properties. However, the impact is direct and material: these fees typically represent recurring or one-time revenue that operators have historically collected as part of standard park operations.
The October 1, 2026 effective date might seem distant, but it requires immediate strategic planning. Property owners need to:
Audit current lease structures. Review every active lease to identify which prohibited fees are currently being charged. Calculate the annual revenue impact of each category.
Model financial scenarios. Determine whether to absorb these costs, increase base rent, or restructure pricing before the deadline. The longer you wait, the less time you have to communicate changes to residents and adjust operations.
Plan lease renewals strategically. Leases signed or renewed before October 1, 2026 may have different treatment than those executed after. Clarify with legal counsel whether existing leases are grandfathered or subject to immediate compliance.
Review insurance and vendor contracts. If you've outsourced utility management, parking enforcement, or pet policies to third parties, those arrangements may need renegotiation.
SB729 is part of Maryland's broader effort to reform eviction procedures and tenant protections. While the primary focus of the bill is expanding access to legal counsel, this fee prohibition is a secondary but significant operational change for the mobile home park industry. Understanding the full scope of the law—not just its headline provision—is essential for compliance and financial planning.
Property managers and owners should not assume that their current fee structure will remain lawful. The statute is clear, and the deadline is fixed.
For a detailed breakdown of SB729's requirements specific to mobile home park operations, including lease language considerations and compliance timelines, a free resource guide is available from industry sources tracking this legislation.