If you’re selling a house in Towson, Catonsville, Dundalk, Parkville, Owings Mills, or anywhere else in Baltimore County, your deed passes through a specific county office before it’s recorded. That office checks the paperwork, confirms property taxes are settled, and collects the county’s share of deed taxes. Knowing how that works helps you estimate your costs and avoid a delay at the finish line.
I’m Evan Weissman. I buy houses throughout Baltimore County and see these charges on every settlement statement. Here’s how the county’s process works, based on the county’s own published information.
The office that reviews your deed
Baltimore County’s Office of Budget and Finance has a Transfer and Recordation Section. According to the county’s deed transfer and recordation page, that section reviews deeds and other property documents before they’re recorded by the Land Records Office of the Circuit Court, and it collects the transfer and recordation taxes due. Handling Baltimore County transfer and recordation tax on a Parkville or Carney house? See a cash offer on a Parkville house. Handling Baltimore County transfer and recordation tax on a Dundalk house? See a cash offer on a Dundalk house.
The county lists these requirements:
- Every deed and property document must include a completed Maryland State Intake Sheet.
- A deed that changes or transfers ownership must come with a lien certificate. The county says a deed submitted without one won’t be processed.
- Deeds involving agricultural use and partial transfers must first be approved by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation’s Towson office.
Your title company handles all of this, but it’s useful to know why they ask for certain things.
The rates
The county’s page lists:
- Baltimore County transfer tax: 1.5% of the consideration.
- Recordation tax: $2.50 for each $500, or fraction of $500, of the consideration.
The Department of Legislative Services’ statewide table shows the same rates. On top of those, the state transfer tax applies at 0.5% under Tax-Property section 13-203, or 0.25% for a qualifying first-time Maryland home buyer.
Compared with the rest of the state, Baltimore County’s recordation rate is one of the lowest, and its local transfer tax is among the highest, matching Baltimore City’s 1.5%. My statewide transfer and recordation tax explainer has every county’s rates side by side.
Splitting the deed taxes with your buyer
Maryland Real Property section 14-104 presumes buyer and seller split recordation and transfer taxes equally unless the contract says otherwise. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the house, the seller pays the whole state transfer tax and, unless the contract says otherwise, the whole recordation and county transfer tax.
That exception matters in Baltimore County because of the 1.5% county rate. Ask early whether your buyer qualifies.
A sample estimate
Here’s a hypothetical $350,000 sale with a standard 50/50 split:
- County transfer tax: 1.5% of $350,000 is $5,250. Seller’s half: $2,625.
- Recordation tax: $350,000 divided by $500 is 700, times $2.50 is $1,750. Seller’s half: $875.
- State transfer tax: 0.5% of $350,000 is $1,750. Seller’s half: $875.
Seller’s share of the three taxes in this example: $4,375. If the buyer were a qualifying first-time Maryland buyer and the contract didn’t change the default, the seller would pay all of the county transfer and recordation taxes plus the reduced state transfer tax, which comes to considerably more.
The lien certificate
Because the county won’t process a transferring deed without a lien certificate, your title company will order one. It shows property taxes and certain other charges owed to the county on the property. Anything due is typically paid from your proceeds at settlement.
If you’re behind on property taxes, expect that to show up here. Baltimore County’s 2026 tax sale date on SDAT’s schedule was August 27, so unpaid taxes can become a larger problem if they’re left long enough. My article on options when you’re behind on property taxes explains what to do.
Who to call with questions
The county’s page lists:
- Taxpayer Services: 410-887-2416, including for lien certificate questions.
- Circuit Court Land Records Office: 410-887-3088, for state transfer tax and recording fees.
The county noted it was updating its real property tax system and that the lien certificate system would be down during that process, so if your title company reports a delay, that may be why.
Other settlement costs to expect
Deed taxes are only one part of the picture. You’ll also see your mortgage payoff, any lien releases, prorated property taxes, commission if you list, and any credits you’ve negotiated. My seller net sheet guide shows how to put it all together, and my article on who pays closing costs in Maryland covers the default split.
Older Baltimore County houses
If you’re selling one of the county’s many mid-century homes, condition often matters as much as taxes to your bottom line. My article on selling an older Baltimore County rancher covers what buyers look for.
What is the Baltimore County transfer tax rate?
The county lists its transfer tax at 1.5% of the consideration. The state transfer tax of 0.5% is separate.
What is the recordation tax in Baltimore County?
$2.50 for each $500, or fraction of $500, of the consideration, according to the county.
Why does Baltimore County require a lien certificate?
The county won’t process a deed that transfers ownership without one. It shows taxes and charges owed to the county so they can be paid at settlement.
Do I pay all of the transfer tax as the seller?
By default, buyer and seller split it equally. The seller pays more when the buyer is a qualifying first-time Maryland home buyer, unless the contract changes that for the county taxes.
Talk through your situation
If you’re selling in Baltimore County and want a quick estimate of your deed taxes, call or text me at (410) 498-7473. I’ll run the numbers for your price.