Maryland Small Claims Limit

Maryland's small claims ceiling is $5,000. That number hasn't changed in decades, and a 2018 legislative proposal to raise it to $7,500 never passed.

How the $5,000 Cap Works

Under CJP § 4-405, the District Court's small claims docket covers money-only claims where the principal amount is $5,000 or less. Interest, court costs, and contractually recoverable attorney's fees don't count toward the cap. So if someone owes you $4,800 and you're also claiming $200 in interest, you're still within the small claims limit.

The claim must be for money damages only — you can't use small claims to force someone to return property, complete a job, or stop doing something.

What Happens Above $5,000

If your claim is between $5,000.01 and $30,000, you file on the District Court's regular civil docket. Formal evidence rules apply and limited discovery is allowed. Above $30,000, you're in Circuit Court.

One trap to watch for: if the defendant files a counterclaim for more than $5,000, the case transfers off the small claims docket to the regular civil track under Rule 3-701(d). You'll then face formal evidence rules and potentially longer timelines.

Splitting a Larger Claim

If a single dispute is worth more than $5,000, filing on the regular civil docket lets you seek the full amount. Dividing related claims among separate cases can raise claim-preclusion issues, so get legal advice before splitting a claim. A $7,000 contractor deposit dispute can be filed on the regular civil docket.

Security Deposit Math

Tenants suing under Real Property § 8-203 can recover up to three times the withheld amount if the landlord failed to return the deposit or provide an itemized statement within 45 days. If your base deposit is $1,800, treble damages would be $5,400 — over the $5,000 limit. You'd need to file on the regular civil docket or limit your claim to $5,000 and waive the excess.

Filing Fees at Each Threshold

Small claims ($5,000 or less) cost $44 to file. Regular civil claims ($5,001–$30,000) cost $56. Both include surcharges for the Real Property Improvement Fund and the MLSC Fund. Service of process adds $20 (certified mail) or $60 (sheriff) per defendant.

Knowing where your claim falls determines which docket you're on, which rules apply, and how much the whole process costs. The Maryland small claims filing guide includes a claim assessment worksheet that walks through these thresholds before you spend a dollar on court fees.

See more Maryland guides →