Recently, relative Rota–Baxter (Lie/associative) algebras are extensively studied in the literature from cohomological points of view. In this paper, we consider relative Rota–Baxter Leibniz algebras (rRB Leibniz algebras) as the object of our study. We construct an L∞-algebra that characterizes rRB Leibniz algebras as its Maurer–Cartan elements. Then we define representations of an rRB Leibniz algebra and introduce cohomology with coefficients in a representation. As applications of cohomology, we study deformations and abelian extensions of rRB Leibniz algebras.