Maryland paid sick leave
In effect since February 11, 2018
1 hour for every 30 hours worked
All employers (paid if 15+ employees; unpaid if 14 or fewer) must let employees accrue and use up to 40 hours of paid sick leave a year. 14 or fewer employees: unpaid earned sick and safe leave.
| Accrual | 1 hour for every 30 hours worked |
|---|---|
| Annual cap | 40 hours Accrue up to 40 hours a year. Carryover cannot push the total balance above 64 hours. |
| Who must provide it | All employers (paid if 15+ employees; unpaid if 14 or fewer) |
| Waiting period | An employer may bar use during the first 106 days (15 weeks) of employment. |
| Carryover | Up to 40 hours carry over unless that would give the employee more than 64 hours in total. No carryover is required if the employer front-loads. |
| Front-loading | Allowed |
| Covered uses | Employee's or family member's illness, injury, health condition, diagnosis or preventive care; domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking needs |
Local sick leave laws in Maryland
These places have their own ordinance. Employers there follow whichever rule is more generous.
- Montgomery County: 1 hour for every 30 hours worked in the county, up to 56 hours
Details and exceptions
- Employees who regularly work fewer than 12 hours a week are exempt.
- Montgomery County has its own, more generous ordinance.
Law: Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-1301 et seq. (Healthy Working Families Act)
Running payroll in Maryland?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry · data as of October 8, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.