Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Eviction Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs 14‑day eviction notice and county notification to DHCA to boost prevention services
Summary
The committee unanimously advanced Expedited Bill 31‑25 to require landlords to give tenants 14 days’ notice before a scheduled eviction and to send the full eviction notice to DHCA so county staff and homelessness‑prevention partners can triage outreach; staff said a dedicated intake process and one additional position would likely be needed.
The Montgomery County Planning, Housing and Parks Committee unanimously recommended forwarding Expedited Bill 31‑25 to full council after adopting clarifications to county notification and timing provisions. The bill increases the local eviction notice period from the state minimum and requires landlords to provide DHCA with the full written eviction notice at least 14 days before a scheduled repossession.
Cheryl Dunye (council staff) summarized the bill and noted that state law (effective Oct. 1, 2025) allows localities to extend the six‑day notice minimum and to require a county copy for coordination. A sponsor amendment was proposed to remove the DHCA notification requirement and instead require landlords to give tenants a written statement directing them to a DHCA website. Committee members opted not to pursue that amendment after county staff explained why direct notification is operationally important.
Scott Bruton, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, said direct notification would allow DHCA to receive landlord notices by a simple email intake and to share those notices with Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEF) and the sheriff's office. "The notification is important," Bruton said, adding the county would set up an email address and a database and likely hire one staff member to process and triage notices so SEF can begin outreach and prevention services.
Christine Hong, Chief of Services to End and Prevent Homelessness with the Department of Health and Human Services, provided county data underscoring why earlier notice matters: "Over the last 5 years, homelessness has increased by 162% in Montgomery County. And for families, it's been 634%." Hong and Bruton said earlier notice and coordinated outreach increase the chance of using emergency rental assistance or other services to keep households housed and reduce shelter costs.
Council members voiced two concerns: whether the county has staffing capacity to enforce or process a large volume of notices and whether the projected citation revenue would be sufficient to fund the intake position. Staff said citation revenue is closely aligned with the projected cost of one staff person and that additional information about how nearby Gaithersburg operationalized a similar requirement will be provided for full council.
Committee members also adopted clarifying amendments to require the landlord to provide the "full written notice pursuant to state law" in the manner and format required by the director, and a prospective timing amendment specifying the bill would not apply to eviction dates scheduled less than 14 days after the act's effective date.
The committee voted unanimously (3–0) to forward the bill, as amended, to full council.
