A little-noticed provision in Maryland's eviction counsel bill eliminates pet fees for mobile home park residents—and creates immediate compliance work for park operators.
Most Maryland mobile home park owners don't yet realize that a provision buried deep in SB729 will eliminate their ability to charge residents pet-keeping fees—a move that takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to leases signed on or after that date.
The bill, formally titled "Real Property - Access to Counsel in Evictions Program - Expansion," is primarily known for expanding legal representation in eviction cases. But Section 8A–402(b)(4), found on page 18 of the legislation, contains language that fundamentally changes how park owners can structure pet policies.
Effective October 1, 2026, Maryland law will prohibit mobile home park owners from charging residents any fee for keeping a pet on leased premises. This is a flat prohibition—not a cap, not a disclosure requirement, but an outright ban on the practice.
For park operators, this means:
Immediate compliance work: Any pet fees currently written into lease agreements must be removed before the effective date. Park owners will need to audit all active leases and billing systems to identify and eliminate pet-related charges.
Loss of a revenue stream: Pet fees have historically been a lawful source of income for park operators. This provision eliminates that entirely, effective prospectively—meaning the ban applies only to new leases or renewals signed on or after October 1, 2026.
Lease language updates: Operators will need to revise pet policies in their standard lease templates to reflect the new reality. Parks can still set rules about pet behavior, size, breed, or number of animals allowed—the ban is specifically on charging a fee for the privilege of keeping a pet.
The provision applies to all mobile home park owners in Maryland, from large operators to small-business owners running single parks. It does not affect other property types—apartment buildings, single-family rentals, or condominiums are not covered by this language.
The act becomes effective October 1, 2026, per Section 5/2 of the bill. The pet-fee prohibition is prospective only, per Section 3, meaning existing leases signed before that date are not affected. However, any lease renewed or newly signed on or after October 1, 2026, must comply with the ban.
Park owners should begin planning now. That includes reviewing current lease agreements, calculating the revenue impact, and preparing updated lease language well before the deadline.
The provision doesn't prohibit pet policies themselves—parks can still require deposits, set behavioral standards, limit the number or type of animals, or exclude certain breeds. The only thing banned is charging a fee specifically for the right to keep a pet.
Source: Maryland SB729, § 8A–402(b)(4), effective October 1, 2026, prospective application per Section 3.