Except under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, a landlord generally may not interrupt utilities provided to a residential tenant—such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and in some areas, trash collection—unless the interruption results from bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency.

A landlord generally may not shut off utilities to a residential tenant because the tenant is late in paying for the utilities. Laws vary from state to state, and laws related to a landlord’s interruption of a residential tenant’s utility services are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Maryland, landlords are generally prohibited from interrupting utility services to a residential tenant, which includes electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and trash collection, except under specific circumstances. These circumstances may include situations where the interruption is necessary for bona fide repairs, construction, or in response to an emergency. Maryland law protects tenants from having their utilities shut off by a landlord as a means of retaliation or as a penalty for late payment of rent or utilities. The relevant regulations are outlined in Maryland's state statutes, which detail the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants in such situations. It is important for landlords to adhere to these regulations to avoid legal repercussions, and for tenants to be aware of their rights to ensure their access to essential services is not unlawfully interrupted.