Maryland sellers must share flood risk forms with home buyers

The Maryland Department of the Environment must create and maintain a flood risk disclosure form, and sellers must give buyers a completed form before signing a sale contract. This applies to residential property improved with four or fewer single-family units. It excludes specified new-home sales, certain tax-exempt transfers, lender sales after foreclosure, court-related sales, fiduciary transfers, property being converted to nonresidential use, and unimproved land. The form must state whether the property is in either defined FEMA flood risk area, whether federal law requires flood insurance, and what the seller knows about federal flood aid, current flood insurance, an elevation certificate, flood claims, or flood damage, seepage, or pooled water from natural flooding. The department must publish the form on or before June 1, 2027. Sellers must provide it before signing a sale contract beginning July 1, 2027.