Deadlines
Separate notice of the sale at least 10 days before the sale
At least 10 days before conducting a sale, the operator must separately notify the occupant of the time, place, and terms of the sale by hand delivery, verified mail, or electronic mail at the last known address. If that sale notice goes by e-mail and no response or delivery confirmation is received at least 5 days before the sale, the operator must promptly send a second notice of sale by verified mail to the last known postal address.
Sale advertised at least 3 days before the sale
At least 3 days before a sale, the operator must advertise the time, place, and terms of the sale in a newspaper of general circulation in the jurisdiction where the sale is to be held, by electronic mail, or on an online website. The sale itself must be held at the facility where the property is stored, and an online-auction-website sale is deemed held at that facility.
Vehicle or watercraft in default more than 60 days may be towed instead of sold
If the occupant is in default for more than 60 days and the stored property is a motor vehicle or watercraft, the operator may have it towed or removed from the facility in lieu of a sale, and is immune from civil liability for damage occurring after the tower takes possession.
Nonrenewal: at least 30 days to remove property, effective July 1, 2026
Effective July 1, 2026, on nonrenewal the operator must give the occupant not less than 30 days after delivery of the notice of nonrenewal, and at least until the end of the rental term, to remove all personal property. Nonrenewal notice may be delivered in person, by e-mail, or by verified mail, and an e-mail notice with no response or delivery confirmation within 5 days after delivery requires a prompt second notice by verified mail.
Notice of intent to dispose at least 10 days before disposing of property left after nonrenewal
Effective July 1, 2026, property left after a nonrenewal may not be disposed of until after the removal period has elapsed, and the operator must deliver (in person, by e-mail, or by verified mail) a notice of intent to dispose at least 10 days before disposing of it. An e-mailed intent notice with no response or delivery confirmation within 5 days requires a prompt second notice by verified mail.
Lien reminders
Operator's lien covers rent, labor, other charges, and sale expenses
The operator has a lien on all personal property stored within each leased space for rent, labor, or other charges, and for expenses reasonably incurred in its sale. The lien is not limited to unpaid rent. Default under the Maryland Self-Service Storage Facilities Act means the failure to perform on time any obligation or duty set forth in the rental agreement; there is no statutory grace period built into the definition.
Reminder material only. This page does not work out your deadline. Your own records and your attorney set that.
Lien sale only after more than 60 days of default
An operator may enforce the lien by public sale, for cash, only if the occupant is in default for a period of more than 60 days. Sixty days of default is the gate for both the sale remedy and the vehicle-tow remedy.
Reminder material only. This page does not work out your deadline. Your own records and your attorney set that.
Paperwork
Rental agreement must carry the bold-type lien statement
Every rental agreement must contain a bold-type statement advising the occupant of the existence of the lien, that stored property may be sold to satisfy the lien if the occupant is in default, that a motor vehicle or watercraft may be towed or removed if the occupant is in default for more than 60 days, and that a lien sale will be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the jurisdiction of the sale, by electronic mail, or on an online website. Effective July 1, 2026, a fifth bold item is required: that on nonrenewal the operator will deliver written notice advising the occupant to remove all property by the date stated in the notice.
Default notice must contain five elements and demand payment within at least 14 days
Before a sale, the operator must notify the occupant of the default by hand delivery, verified mail, or electronic mail at the occupant's last known address. E-mail notice is allowed only if the rental agreement (or a written change) specifies in bold type that notice may be given by e-mail and the occupant initials next to that statement. The notice must include a statement that the contents are subject to the operator's lien, a statement of the claim showing charges due on the notice date and additional charges that will become due before the sale with the dates they become due, a demand for payment within a specified time not less than 14 days after the date the notice was mailed, a statement that unless paid in that time the contents will be sold at a specified time and place, and the name, street address, and telephone number of the operator or designated agent to contact.
Occupant may redeem at any time before the sale
At any time before the sale, the occupant may pay the amount necessary to satisfy the lien and redeem the property. If the occupant is in default, the operator may deny the occupant access to the leased space.
Late fee capped at the greater of $20 a month or 20 percent of monthly rent
A late fee may be charged for each month rent is not paid when due, capped at the greater of $20 a month or 20 percent of the monthly rent for the leased space, and only if the rental agreement discloses both the amount of the fee and the timing for charging it.