Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0220*
HOUSE BILL 220
M3, N1 6lr1505
(PRE–FILED) CF SB 130
By: Delegate Charkoudian Delegates Charkoudian and Guyton
Requested: October 30, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted with floor amendments
Read second time: February 15, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Environment – Water – Individual Unit Meters Submeters 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing the installation of individual unit water meters submeters 3
for certain apartment houses and dwelling units mobile home parks; prohibiting the 4
owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house or a mobile home park , or a 5
contractor hired by the owner, operator, or manager, from imposing certain costs on 6
a unit; requiring each individual unit meter to include a leak detection mon itor; 7
authorizing the occupant of a dwelling unit to periodically inspect the leak detection 8
monitor installed for their unit authorizing the owner, operator, or manager of an 9
apartment house or a mobile home park to bill an occupant a certain amount under 10
certain circumstances; prohibiting the owner, operator, or manager of an apartment 11
house or a mobile home park from billing an occupant under certain circumstances ; 12
requiring the owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house or a mobile home 13
park, or a contractor hired by the owner, operator, or manager to maintain certain 14
records; prohibiting unpaid water bills from being treated as unpaid rent in an 15
eviction process; establishing a certain complaint process; requiring certain 16
landlords to use a certa in written lease, provide a copy of a water or sewer bill to a 17
tenant within a certain time frame, and notify prospective tenants of certain 18
information within a certain time frame; prohibiting certain landlords from 19
requiring a tenant to make certain payments to a third party; and generally relating 20
to individual unit water meters submeters. 21
BY adding to 22
Article – Environment 23
2 HOUSE BILL 220
Section 9–1115 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3
BY adding to 4
Article – Real Property 5
Section 8–205.3 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 8
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 9
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 10
Article – Environment 11
9–1115. 12
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 13
INDICATED. 14
(2) “ADEQUATE RECORDS” INCLUDES: 15
(I) A COPY OF ALL CHARGES THAT THE WATER SERVI CE 16
PROVIDER IMPOSED ON THE OWNER, OPERATOR, OR MANAGER OF AN APA RTMENT 17
HOUSE OR A MOBILE HOME PARK IN THE PRECEDING 2 YEARS; 18
(II) THE TOTAL UTILITY COS T IMPOSED ON ALL UNI TS IN THE 19
FACILITY EACH MONTH FOR THE CURRENT CALE NDAR YEAR AND PREVIO US 20
CALENDAR YEAR; 21
(III) THE TOTAL REVENUE COL LECTED FROM OCCUPANT S TO 22
PAY THE CHARGES IMPO SED ON THE OWNER , OPERATOR, OR MANAGE R BY THE 23
WATER SERVICE PROVIDER EACH MONTH FOR THE CURRENT CALENDAR YEAR AND 24
PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR; 25
(IV) AN EXPLANATION OF THE FORMULA USED TO ALLO CATE 26
THE COST OF EACH UNIT’S WATER CONSUMPTION; AND 27
(V) ANY OTHER INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR A TENA NT TO 28
VERIFY A WATER UTILITY BILL. 29
(3) (I) “APARTMENT HOUSE ” MEANS ONE OR MORE BU ILDINGS 30
THAT EACH CONTAIN MO RE THAN TWO DWELLING UNITS AND IN WHICH A LL THE 31
DWELLING UNITS ARE O CCUPIED PRIMARILY FOR NONTRANSIENT USE W ITH RENT 32
PAID AT INTERVALS OF 1 WEEK OR LONGER. 33
HOUSE BILL 220 3
(II) “APARTMENT HOUSE ” INCLUDES A RESIDENTI AL 1
CONDOMINIUM OR COOPE RATIVE, WHETHER THE UNITS AR E RENTED OR OWNER 2
OCCUPIED. 3
(4) “DWELLING UNIT” MEANS PREMISES THAT CONSIST OF ONE OR 4
MORE ROOMS SUITABLE FOR OCCUPANCY AS A R ESIDENCE AND THAT CONTAIN 5
KITCHEN AND BATHROOM FACILITIES. 6
(5) “INDIVIDUAL UNIT METER SUBMETER” MEANS EQUIPMENT USED 7
TO DETERMINE THE ACT UAL USE OF WATER FOR EACH RESIDENTIAL UNI T IN AN 8
APARTMENT HOUSE OR A MOBILE HOME PARK. 9
(6) “WATER SERVICE PROVIDER” MEANS, AS APPLICABLE: 10
(I) A POLITICAL SUBDIVISIO N THAT PROVIDES WATE R AND 11
SEWERAGE SERVICES UNDER SUBTITLE 7 OF THIS TITLE; 12
(II) A WATER COMPANY, AS DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE PUBLIC 13
UTILITIES ARTICLE; OR 14
(III) THE WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION; OR 15
(IV) A MOBILE HOME PARK. 16
(B) SUBJECT TO THE PROVIS IONS OF THIS SECTION , AND WITH THE 17
APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 18
AND THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS OR EQUIVALENT LOCAL AUTHORITY, A LOCAL 19
HOUSING AUTHORITY ES TABLISHED UNDER DIVISION II OF THE HOUSING AND 20
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ARTICLE MAY INSTALL I NDIVIDUAL UNIT METERS 21
SUBMETERS FOR ANY COMBINATION OF APARTMENT HOUSES OR DWELLING UNITS. 22
(C) AN OWNER, AN OPERATOR, OR A MANAGER OF AN APARTMENT HOUSE 23
OR A MOBILE HOME PARK, OR A CONTRACTOR HIRED BY THE OWNER, OPERATOR, OR 24
MANAGER, MAY INSTALL AN INDIV IDUAL UNIT METER SUBMETER FOR EACH 25
DWELLING UNIT THAT I S NOT INDIVIDUALLY DIRECTLY METERED FOR WATER TO 26
ALLOCATE FAIRLY THE COST OF EACH UNIT’S WATER CONSUMPTION. 27
(D) (1) AN OWNER , AN OPERATOR , OR A MANAGER OF AN A PARTMENT 28
HOUSE OR A MOBILE HOME PAR K, OR A CONTRACTOR HIRE D BY THE OWNER , 29
OPERATOR, OR MANAGER, WHO INSTALLS INDIVID UAL UNIT METERS SUBMETERS 30
UNDER THIS SECTION TO PROVIDE BULK METERED SERVICE MAY NOT IMPOSE ON A 31
UNIT IN THE FACILITY ANY WATER OR SEWERAGE COST EXCEPT THE CHARGES THAT 32
4 HOUSE BILL 220
THE WATER SERVICE PROVIDER ACTUALLY IMPOSES ON THE OWNER, OPERATOR, OR 1
MANAGER. 2
(2) THE CHARGES IMPOSED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 3
SUBSECTION S HALL BE ALLOCATED AM ONG THE UNITS IN PRO PORTION TO THE 4
ACTUAL USAGE BY THE UNIT. 5
(3) THE OWNER, OPERATOR, OR MANAGER OF AN APARTMENT HOUSE 6
OR A MOBILE HOME PARK, OR A CONTRACTOR HIRED BY THE OWNER, OPERATOR, OR 7
MANAGER, MAY NOT IMPOSE ON A UNIT IN THE F ACILITY ANY COSTS AS SOCIATED 8
WITH: 9
(I) POOR MAINTENANCE OR L EAKS THAT THE OWNER , 10
OPERATOR, MANAGER, OR CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR; OR 11
(II) COMMON AREA USAGE; OR 12
(III) USAGE IN ANY PART OF A BUILDING THAT IS NOT USED AS A 13
RESIDENTIAL UNIT. 14
(4) THE OWNER, OPERATOR, OR MANAGER OF AN APARTMENT HOUSE 15
OR A MOBILE HOME PARK, OR A CONTRACTOR HIRED BY THE OWNER, OPERATOR, OR 16
MANAGER, MAY COLLECT AN ADDITIONAL SERVICE CHARGE NOT EXCEEDING $1 PER 17
UNIT PER MONTH TO COVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND BILLING. 18
(E) (1) EACH INDIVIDUAL UNIT METER SUBMETER UNDER THIS SECTION 19
IS SUBJECT TO THE RE GULATIONS AND STANDA RDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT, IN 20
CONSULTATION WITH TH E DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY 21
DEVELOPMENT, ADOPTS FOR THE ACCURACY, TESTING, AND RECORD KEEPING OF 22
INDIVIDUAL UNIT METERS SUBMETERS. 23
(2) REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE AT 24
LEAST AS STRINGENT A S THE REGULATIONS AP PLICABLE TO THE WATE R METERS 25
THAT WATER SERVICE PROVIDERS INSTALL. 26
(F) (1) EACH INDIVIDUAL UNIT METER UNDER T HIS SECTION SHALL 27
INCLUDE A LEAK DETECTION MONITOR. 28
(2) THE OWNER , OPERATOR, OR MANAGER OF THE AP ARTMENT 29
HOUSE, OR A CONTRACTOR HIRED BY THE OWNER, OPERATOR, OR MANAGER, SHALL 30
ALLOW THE OCCUPANT O F THE UNIT TO PERIOD ICALLY INSPECT THE L EAK 31
DETECTION MONITOR 32
HOUSE BILL 220 5
(I) IN THIS SUBSECTION TH E FOLLOWING WORDS HA VE THE 1
MEANINGS INDICATED. 2
(II) “ACTUAL USAGE ” MEANS USAGE THAT WAS MEASURED 3
WHEN A METER WAS CONSIDERED ACCURATE. 4
(III) “ESTIMATED USAGE ” MEANS THE AVERAGE US AGE BY 5
DWELLING UNITS IN THE SAME APARTMENT HOUSE THAT: 6
1. ARE OF COMPARABLE SIZE; AND 7
2. HAVE A COMPARABLE NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS. 8
(2) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , IF AN 9
INDIVIDUAL SUBMETER DOES NOT PROVIDE ADE QUATE OR ACCURATE DA TA FOR 10
BILLING PURPOSES , THE OWNE R, OPERATOR, OR MANAGER OF AN APA RTMENT 11
HOUSE MAY BILL THE OCCUPANT OF THE UNIT: 12
(I) THE AVERAGE COST OF T HE MOST RECENT 3 MONTHS OF 13
ACTUAL USAGE BY THE OCCUPANT OF THE UNIT; OR 14
(II) IF RECORDS OF THE MOS T RECENT 3 MONTHS OF ACTUAL 15
USAGE BY THE OCCUPANT OF THE UNIT ARE NOT AVAILABLE , THE AVERAGE COST 16
OF THE MOST RECENT 3 MONTHS OF ESTIMATED USAGE. 17
(3) IF AN INDIVIDUAL SUBM ETER HAS NOT BEEN RE PAIRED OR 18
REPLACED FOR TWO CON SECUTIVE BILLING CYC LES, THE OWNER, OPERATOR, OR 19
MANAGER OF AN APARTMENT HOUSE MAY NOT BILL THE OCCUPANT OF THAT UNIT 20
UNTIL THE INDIVIDUAL SUBMETER IS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. 21
(G) THE OWNER, OPERATOR, OR MANAGER OF THE APARTMENT HOUSE OR 22
MOBILE HOME PARK , OR A CONTRACTOR HIRE D BY THE OWNER , OPERATOR, OR 23
MANAGER, SHALL: 24
(1) MAINTAIN ADEQUATE REC ORDS REGARDING INDIV IDUAL UNIT 25
METERS SUBMETERS; AND 26
(2) OBTAIN ANY ADDITIONAL RECORDS NEEDED BY AN OCCUPANT OF 27
A UNIT TO VERIFY A WATER BILL; AND 28
(3) ALLOW THE OCCUPANT OF THE UNIT TO INSPECT THE RECORDS 29
DURING REASONABLE BUSINESS HOURS. 30
6 HOUSE BILL 220
(H) UNPAID WATER BILLS UN DER THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS 1
UNPAID RENT IN AN EVICTION PROCEEDING. 2
(I) (H) (1) A COMPLAINT BY AN OCCU PANT OF A DWELLING U NIT 3
AGAINST AN OWNER , OPERATOR, OR MANAGER OF AN APA RTMENT HOUSE OR A 4
MOBILE HOME PARK, OR A CONTRACTOR HIRE D BY THE OWNER , OPERATOR, OR 5
MANAGER, UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE FILED IN THE C OUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY 6
WHERE THE APARTMENT HOUSE OR MOBILE HOME PARK IS LOCATED. 7
(2) A COMPLAINT FILED UNDE R PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 8
SUBSECTION MAY BE HANDLED BY: 9
(I) THE LANDLORD–TENANT COMMISSION, IF ONE EXISTS , OF 10
THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY; 11
(II) THE CONSUMER PROTECTI ON AGENCY, IF ONE EXISTS , OF 12
THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION IF THERE IS NOT A LANDLORD–TENANT 13
COMMISSION IN THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY OR IF THE COMMISSION DOES NOT 14
HAVE JURISDICTION; OR 15
(III) THE CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF 16
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IF THERE IS NOT A CO NSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY IN 17
THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY OR THE AGENCY DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION.; OR 18
(IV) A PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION. 19
(3) NOTHING IN THIS SUBSE CTION SHALL BE CONST RUED AS 20
PREVENTING ANY STATE AGENCY FROM EXE RCISING ITS AUTHORIT Y REGARDING 21
THE COLLECTION OF OBLIGATIONS ARISING FROM CONSUMER TRANSACTIONS. 22
Article – Real Property 23
8–205.3. 24
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “INDIVIDUAL SUBMETER” HAS THE MEANING STATED 25
IN § 9–1115 OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE. 26
(B) A LANDLORD THAT REQUIR ES A TENANT TO MAKE PAYMENTS FOR 27
WATER OR SEWER SERVICES MEASURED BY AN INDIVIDUAL SUBMETER TO A THIRD 28
PARTY SHALL: 29
(1) USE A WRITTEN LEASE T HAT PROVIDES NOTICE THAT THE 30
TENANT IS RESPONSIBL E FOR MAKING PAYMENT S FOR THE WATER OR S EWER 31
SERVICES TO THE THIRD PARTY; 32
HOUSE BILL 220 7
(2) PROVIDE A COPY OF THE WATER OR SEWER BILL TO THE TENANT 1
NOT LATER THAN 20 DAYS BEFORE PAYMENT OF THE BILL IS DUE; AND 2
(3) BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE INITIAL LEASE , NOTIFY THE 3
PROSPECTIVE TENANT IN WRITING OF: 4
(I) THE TOTAL WATER AND S EWER COSTS BILLED TO THE 5
OCCUPANTS OF THE UNIT IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING 2 YEARS; OR 6
(II) IF WATER AND SEWER CO STS WERE NOT BILLED TO AN 7
OCCUPANT OF THE UNIT FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING 2 YEARS, THE TOTAL 8
WATER AND SEWER COSTS BILLED TO A COMPARABLY SIZED UNIT WITHIN THAT TIME 9
PERIOD. 10
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, A LANDLORD THAT 11
DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF § 9–1115 OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE 12
MAY NOT REQUIRE A TE NANT TO MAKE PAYMENT S TO A THIRD PARTY F OR WATER 13
OR SEWER SERVICES. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 15
October 1, 2026. 16
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.