Decisions and Orders
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The Montgomery County Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs (also know as Commission or COLTA) is a quasi-judicial administrative body charged with enforcing Chapter 29 of the Montgomery County Code. After hearing a case, the Commission or a panel of selected members will carefully formulate an opinion as to whether or not a violation of law has occurred. If a violation has occurred, the Commission has authority to order an appropriate remedy. This written order, referred to as a Decision and Order, is legally binding and if either party fails to adhere to the provisions of the Decision and Order, the County can take enforcement action. If either party disagrees with a Decision and Order issued by the Commission, the decision may be appealed to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County.

The Commission has issued Decisions and Orders that have addressed a variety of Landlord-Tenant issues—including matters concerning security deposits, utility conversion, breach of lease, license revocation and habitability. Together, these Decisions and Orders create an extensive body of case law which have both shaped and clarified the meaning of Chapter 29.

As a public service, the Decisions and Orders issued since 2011 are available online. We hope that this information will assist you in understanding the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants in Montgomery County and provide you with guidance in understanding how the Commission may address similar cases that may arise in the future.

Decisions and Orders

To view available Decisions and Orders, please go to our Decisions and Orders of the Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs webpage. To view the summary, click on the Case Number in the table below. To view the complete Decision and Order, click on the Case Number contained within the summary.