Short-term rental license Maryland: city-by-city rules

Last updated 2026-07-26

Does Maryland require a statewide short-term rental license?

No. Maryland has no single state agency that issues short-term rental (STR) licenses the way it does for, say, contractor licenses. Instead, STR regulation in Maryland happens almost entirely at the county and municipal level, which means the rules you face depend entirely on where the property sits. This is a common pattern across the country, but it trips people up because they Google "Maryland short-term rental license" expecting a single state form and fee. What actually exists is a patchwork: Baltimore City has its own rental licensing law, Ocean City has its own zoning and licensing rules for vacation rentals, Annapolis has a separate STR ordinance, and unincorporated parts of counties like Worcester or Talbot may have yet another set of rules layered on top. The one thing that is statewide is sales and use tax and, in many jurisdictions, hotel or accommodations tax. Maryland's sales and use tax applies to short-term lodging under Md. Code, Tax-General § 11-101 et seq., and short-term rental hosts are generally required to collect and remit Maryland sales tax on the rental charge ^[1]. On top of that, individual counties (like Worcester County, home to Ocean City) impose their own room tax, collected separately from the state tax ^[2]. So the honest starting point is: check your specific city or town first, then check your county, then handle state sales tax. There isn't a shortcut that skips local research.

How do I find my city's short-term rental rules in Maryland?

Start with the planning or zoning department of the city or county where the property sits, not a general search engine result, because STR rules change often and third-party sites go stale fast. Most Maryland municipalities that regulate STRs publish the ordinance and any application forms on their own.gov or municode site. A few examples of where this lives, as of this writing: - Baltimore City requires rental properties, including many short-term rentals, to carry a rental license issued through the Department of Housing and Community Development, with lead paint registration required separately under Maryland's lead poisoning prevention law if the property was built before 1978.

• Ocean City regulates short-term (transient) rentals through its zoning code and requires a rental license from the Town, with specific rules about occupancy limits and parking that differ by zoning district. Confirm current fee and application details with Ocean City's rental licensing office.
• Annapolis passed a short-term rental ordinance that created a permitting system distinguishing between owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied rentals, with different caps and permit types for each. Confirm current permit categories and fees with the City of Annapolis. Because these ordinances get amended (Annapolis's STR rules, for instance, have been revised more than once since first adopted), don't rely on a blog post, including this one, for the current fee schedule. Call or check the municipal website the same week you plan to apply. If you're new to any of this, it helps to understand the basics of landlord landlords licensing generally, since STR rules often sit on top of, not instead of, standard rental licensing requirements.

What is landlording and how is a short-term rental host different?

Landlording is the business of renting out real property to someone else in exchange for money, along with the ongoing responsibilities that come with that: maintaining the unit, handling repairs, collecting rent, and following state and local landlord-tenant law. A landlord is simply the person or entity that owns the property and rents it to a tenant. A short-term rental host is doing a version of the same thing, but the legal box it falls into is different in most cities. Long-term landlord-tenant law in Maryland is governed by the Maryland Code, Real Property Article, Title 8, which covers leases, security deposits, and evictions ^[3]. Short-term stays under about 30 days, by contrast, usually get treated more like transient lodging (closer to a hotel stay) for tax and licensing purposes, even though the property is a house or apartment rather than a hotel room. This distinction matters practically. If you rent a unit for 6 months, Maryland's security deposit law (capped at two months' rent under Real Property § 8-203) and the standard eviction process apply ^[4]. If you rent the same unit for a 3-night stay, most of that framework doesn't apply the same way, but local hotel tax, transient occupancy rules, and STR-specific zoning provisions kick in instead. If you're doing both, long-term leasing in the off-season and short-term rentals in peak season, you may need to comply with two different regulatory tracks on the same property. That's worth confirming with your city's licensing office before you commit to a mixed strategy.

How do I become a landlord in Maryland, step by step?

Becoming a landlord in Maryland, whether long-term or short-term, generally follows the same rough sequence, though the specific paperwork differs by city. 1. Confirm the property is zoned for the rental use you intend (long-term rental, short-term rental, or both). Zoning is handled locally, not by the state. 2. Register the rental with your city or county if required. Baltimore City, for example, requires most rental dwellings to have a rental license, and failing to have one can affect your ability to pursue rent in eviction cases. 3. Register for lead paint compliance if the structure was built before 1978. Maryland's Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act requires registration with the Maryland Department of the Environment for pre-1978 rental units ^[5]. 4. Get the property inspected if your jurisdiction requires it (common for rental licensing, sometimes separate for STR permits). 5. Set up rent collection, a lease (for long-term) or booking terms (for short-term), and insurance. 6. Register for and start collecting any applicable state sales tax and local hotel/room tax if you're doing short-term stays ^{[1] [2]}. A lot of first-time landlords skip step 3 because they don't realize it applies to a small single-family rental, more than big apartment buildings. It applies to nearly any pre-1978 rental unit in Maryland, regardless of size, unless a specific exemption applies ^[5].

What can a landlord look at during a rental inspection?

During a rental licensing or safety inspection, a landlord or inspector can typically check for working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, functioning heat and hot water, secure locks on doors and windows, absence of pest infestation, safe electrical wiring, and general structural soundness. What's inspected depends on the local housing code your city or county enforces, since Maryland doesn't have one uniform statewide rental inspection checklist. Most Maryland rental licensing inspections are modeled loosely on maintaining basic habitability: no exposed wiring, working plumbing, adequate egress from bedrooms, and no serious code violations like structural damage or mold from unresolved leaks. Baltimore City's rental licensing inspection, for instance, checks against the City's housing code standards tied to its rental license program. What a landlord generally cannot do during a routine inspection is search personal belongings, go through closets or drawers unrelated to the inspection's purpose, or use the visit as a pretext to harass a tenant or discourage a complaint. Inspections for licensing purposes are about the condition of the unit, not the tenant's possessions. If you're prepping for an inspection, it helps to walk the unit yourself first using the same checklist categories: detectors, egress, plumbing, electrical, pest evidence, and structural condition. Fixing the obvious stuff before the inspector shows up saves you a re-inspection fee in most cities.

Who is responsible for a rental property walk-through inspection?

This question comes up a lot with California-style move-in/move-out inspections, and while Maryland law doesn't require the identical process, the underlying responsibility split is similar. The landlord is generally responsible for scheduling and documenting the walk-through inspection, and the tenant has the right to be present and to note any pre-existing damage before move-in. California law (Civil Code § 1950.5) specifically gives tenants the right to request an initial inspection before move-out, with the landlord required to give at least 48 hours' notice of that inspection and an itemized statement of needed repairs ^[6]. Maryland doesn't have an identical statute mandating a pre-move-out walk-through, but Maryland's security deposit law under Real Property § 8-203 does require landlords to give tenants a written list of existing damages at move-in if requested, and to provide an itemized list of deductions from the deposit within 45 days of move-out ^[4]. Practically, the walk-through in Maryland works like this: the landlord documents the unit's condition (photos, a written checklist) at move-in, ideally with the tenant present and both parties signing off. At move-out, the landlord re-inspects, compares against the move-in documentation, and has 45 days to send an itemized statement of any deductions along with the remaining deposit, per Real Property § 8-203(f)(1) ^[4]. Skipping this documentation is one of the most common reasons landlords lose security deposit disputes in court, because the burden shifts to them without it. For short-term rentals, there's no tenant walk-through in this sense since guests aren't tenants under a lease. Damage disputes for STR stays are usually handled through the booking platform's policies or a separate damage deposit, not landlord-tenant law.

What rights do tenants have without a lease in Maryland?

A tenant without a written lease in Maryland is generally still a tenant, protected under a month-to-month or periodic tenancy created by the act of paying and accepting rent. Maryland's landlord-tenant statute doesn't require a written lease to create tenant rights; an oral agreement or even implied agreement from ongoing rent payment still triggers protections under Real Property Article, Title 8. Without a written lease, the tenancy is generally treated as month-to-month, meaning either party can end it with proper notice. Maryland law generally requires at least one month's written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy, and this notice period, along with additional protections, can vary by jurisdiction. Baltimore City and some other localities have layered on additional "just cause" eviction protections in recent years, so a no-lease tenant in Baltimore City may have more protection against non-renewal than the same tenant in a rural county with only state-level protections. Even without a lease, tenants retain the right to a habitable unit, the right to their security deposit back (with interest, if applicable, and an itemized deduction list) under Real Property § 8-203, and protection against illegal lockouts or utility shutoffs used to force them out. Self-help eviction (changing locks, shutting off utilities, removing belongings without a court order) is illegal in Maryland regardless of whether there's a written lease ^[4]. If you're a landlord operating without written leases, that's a real risk, not a shortcut. Verbal terms are hard to prove in a dispute, and you lose the ability to define things like pet policies, subletting rules, or specific notice periods beyond the statutory minimum.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before entry or ending a tenancy?

Notice requirements in Maryland split into two very different categories: notice to enter the unit and notice to end a tenancy. They're often confused, but they trigger different rules and different consequences if you get them wrong. For entry, Maryland doesn't have a single statewide statute dictating a specific number of hours' notice for routine entry into an occupied rental, unlike some states that specify 24 hours in writing. Best practice, and what most Maryland leases specify, is 24 to 48 hours' written or verbal notice for non-emergency entry (repairs, inspections, showings), with immediate entry allowed only for genuine emergencies. Check your specific lease language and your city's rental licensing rules, since some jurisdictions add their own entry notice requirements as a condition of the license. For ending a tenancy, Maryland Real Property § 8-402 and related sections set notice periods depending on the type of tenancy and reason for termination. A month-to-month tenancy generally requires at least one month's written notice from either party to terminate. Ending a tenancy for nonpayment of rent, on the other hand, follows a separate summary ejectment process under Real Property § 8-401, which does not require the same advance notice, though it does require a court filing and hearing before the tenant can actually be removed ^[4]. Jurisdictions differ on top of the state floor. Some Maryland counties and Baltimore City have added notice requirements for non-renewal of a lease beyond what state law requires, particularly for longer-term tenants. If you manage property in more than one Maryland jurisdiction, don't assume the notice period is identical everywhere; check the local code each time.

Why do landlords require renters insurance?

Landlords require renters insurance mainly to shift liability for the tenant's personal property and personal liability away from the landlord's own policy. A landlord's property insurance covers the building itself; it typically does not cover a tenant's furniture, electronics, or clothing if there's a fire, burst pipe, or theft. Renters insurance closes that gap. The other big reason is liability. If a tenant's dog bites a visitor, or the tenant accidentally starts a kitchen fire that damages a neighboring unit, renters insurance (which usually includes personal liability coverage, often $100,000 or more depending on the policy) can cover the claim instead of that liability falling back on the landlord or the landlord's insurer. This is especially relevant in multi-unit buildings where one tenant's negligence can damage other units. Maryland law doesn't require landlords to mandate renters insurance, but nothing stops a landlord from making it a lease condition, and many do, particularly for higher-value units or buildings with shared walls. If you require it, be specific in the lease about minimum coverage amounts and require proof of active coverage, since an expired policy is functionally the same as no policy. For short-term rentals, most booking platforms provide some limited host protection or guest damage coverage, but it's typically narrower than a standard renters or landlord policy, and it usually doesn't cover things like liability for injuries in the same way a dedicated policy would. If you're running an STR, check what your platform's host guarantee actually covers before assuming you're protected.

What can't a landlord do (and how does that compare across states like Ohio)?

People searching "what a landlord cannot do in Ohio" are usually trying to understand baseline tenant protections that exist in most states, including Maryland, even though the specific statute numbers differ. The core prohibitions are broadly similar nationwide because they trace back to basic due process and habitability principles. In Ohio, landlord obligations and prohibitions are set out in Ohio Revised Code § 5321.04, which requires landlords to keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition, maintain common areas, and comply with building and housing codes, and separately prohibits retaliatory conduct against tenants who exercise legal rights under § 5321.02 ^[7]. A landlord in Ohio cannot shut off utilities, change locks, or remove a tenant's belongings to force them out without a court order; that's illegal self-help eviction. Maryland's version of these protections lives in Real Property Article, Title 8. A Maryland landlord cannot lock out a tenant, shut off utilities to force a move-out, or retaliate against a tenant for reporting code violations or exercising legal rights. Maryland courts have also recognized retaliatory eviction as a defense, and some Maryland jurisdictions have added their own anti-retaliation and just-cause protections beyond the state floor. The throughline across states is this: eviction has to go through the courts, habitability is a legal obligation not a favor, and self-help remedies (locks, utility shutoffs, physical removal of belongings) are illegal almost everywhere in the U.S., Maryland and Ohio included. If you're a landlord anywhere, the safest rule of thumb is: if you're tempted to solve a tenant problem without going through court, don't.

What does a short-term rental license actually cost and take to get in Maryland?

Costs and processing times vary enough by city that any single number here would be misleading, but the general categories of cost are consistent: an application or license fee (often in the range of roughly $50 to a few hundred dollars per unit depending on the city and unit type), a possible inspection fee, and ongoing hotel/room tax collection obligations layered on top of the license itself. Worcester County, where Ocean City sits, imposes its own room tax on short-term lodging separate from state sales tax, and hosts are generally responsible for registering with the county to collect and remit it ^[2]. Maryland's state sales tax on short-term lodging applies on top of any local room tax, meaning a guest's total tax burden on a short-term stay can include both state sales tax and a local accommodations tax ^[1]. Processing time for the license or permit itself often runs a few weeks once you've submitted a complete application, but that assumes no inspection backlog and no zoning issues to resolve first. Cities with high STR demand (think Ocean City in summer) sometimes see longer queues right before peak season, so applying in the off-season, if your city allows it, tends to go faster. Because fees, forms, and inspection checklists differ by city and change over legislative cycles, the only reliable way to get the actual current number is to call or check your specific city's rental licensing or zoning office directly. If you want a structured way to organize what a specific city is likely to ask for before you call, the $79 one-time City Rental License & Inspection Prep Packet walks through the common categories (safety items, documentation, tax registration steps) so you're not starting from a blank page when you make that call.

What happens if I skip the license and just list the property anyway?

Operating an unlicensed short-term rental in a Maryland jurisdiction that requires one typically exposes you to fines, potential shutdown orders, and in some cities, back taxes plus penalties on the room tax you should have been collecting. Enforcement intensity varies a lot by city; some places actively monitor listing sites like Airbnb and Vrbo against their license registry, others rely mostly on neighbor complaints. Baltimore City and other Maryland municipalities with active rental licensing programs have the authority to issue civil citations for operating without a required rental license, and in some cases an unlicensed rental status can also affect a landlord's ability to collect rent through the courts. Local ordinances also frequently allow the jurisdiction to order a property to stop short-term rental operations entirely until it's brought into compliance. The tax exposure is often the more expensive part, honestly, more than the license fee itself. If you've been collecting rent from short-term guests without remitting the applicable state sales tax or local room tax, the state and county can typically go back and assess unpaid tax plus interest and penalties once discovered, and "I didn't know I owed it" isn't a defense that works with the Comptroller's office. The fix, if you're already operating unlicensed, is usually to contact your city's licensing office proactively rather than waiting for a complaint or a platform data request to surface it. Cities vary in how lenient they are with self-reported non-compliance versus a compliance action triggered by a complaint; getting ahead of it tends to go better than getting caught.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one Maryland state license for short-term rentals?

No. Maryland regulates short-term rentals at the city and county level, not through a single statewide license. You need to check the specific municipality or county where the property is located, since Baltimore City, Ocean City, Annapolis, and other jurisdictions each have their own rules, fees, and application processes.

How to become a landlord in Maryland?

Confirm zoning allows rental use, register for any required city or county rental license, register pre-1978 units for lead paint compliance under Maryland's Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act, pass any required inspection, and set up a lease compliant with Real Property Article, Title 8. Short-term hosts also need to register for state sales tax and, often, local room tax.

What is landlording, in plain terms?

Landlording is running rental property as a business: collecting rent, maintaining the unit, following state and local landlord-tenant law, and handling tenant turnover. It includes both the legal obligations (habitability, deposit handling, notice periods) and the practical work (repairs, screening, bookkeeping).

What is a landlord, legally speaking?

A landlord is the owner (or authorized agent of the owner) of real property who rents it to another person, the tenant, in exchange for rent. Maryland law establishes landlord and tenant obligations in the Real Property Article, Title 8, covering leases, deposits, repairs, and eviction procedures.

What rights does a tenant have without a signed lease in Maryland?

A tenant without a written lease is still legally a tenant, usually under a month-to-month tenancy created by paying and accepting rent. They retain rights to habitability, security deposit protections under Real Property § 8-203, and protection from illegal lockout or utility shutoff, even without paperwork.

Why do landlords require tenants to carry renters insurance?

Mainly to cover the tenant's personal property (which the landlord's building policy doesn't cover) and to shift personal liability, like fire or water damage caused by the tenant, off the landlord's own insurance. It's not required by Maryland law but is a common and enforceable lease condition.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering a rental unit in Maryland?

Maryland doesn't set one statewide number of hours for routine entry notice; 24 to 48 hours' notice is standard practice and often specified in the lease itself. Ending a month-to-month tenancy generally requires at least one full month's written notice under Real Property Article, Title 8.

What can a landlord look at during a rental inspection?

Inspectors typically check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, heating and hot water function, secure locks, electrical safety, plumbing, pest evidence, and general structural condition against the local housing code. They generally cannot search personal belongings unrelated to the inspection's purpose.

Who is responsible for scheduling a rental walk-through inspection?

The landlord is generally responsible for scheduling and documenting move-in and move-out walk-throughs. Maryland's Real Property § 8-203 requires landlords to provide tenants an itemized list of deductions within 45 days of move-out if any part of the security deposit is withheld.

What can't a landlord do in Ohio (or Maryland)?

In both states, landlords cannot use self-help eviction: no lockouts, no utility shutoffs, no removing a tenant's belongings without a court order. Ohio Revised Code § 5321.04 requires habitability and prohibits retaliation; Maryland's Real Property Article, Title 8 sets a similar floor of protections.

Do I need to collect hotel tax on a Maryland short-term rental?

Often yes. Maryland state sales tax generally applies to short-term lodging under Title 11 of the Tax-General Article, and many counties (Worcester County, for example) add a separate local room or accommodations tax on top. Confirm current rates and registration steps with your county's finance office.

How long does it take to get a short-term rental license in Maryland?

It varies widely by city, often a few weeks for a complete application, longer if an inspection queue is backed up or zoning issues need resolving first. Peak-season cities like Ocean City can see longer waits right before summer; applying in the off-season tends to move faster.

What happens if I operate a short-term rental without a required license?

You risk civil citations, potential shutdown orders, and back taxes plus penalties on any hotel or sales tax that should have been collected and remitted. Enforcement varies by city; some actively cross-check listing platforms against license registries, others rely on complaints.

Sources

1. Maryland General Assembly, Tax-General Article § 11-101 et seq.: Maryland state sales and use tax applies to short-term lodging charges
2. Worcester County, Maryland Room Tax: Worcester County imposes a separate local room tax on short-term lodging in addition to state sales tax
3. Maryland General Assembly, Real Property Article, Title 8: Maryland landlord-tenant law, including leases and eviction procedures, is governed by Real Property Article, Title 8
4. Maryland General Assembly, Real Property § 8-203: Security deposits are capped and landlords must provide itemized deduction lists within 45 days of move-out
5. Maryland Department of the Environment, Lead Poisoning Prevention Program: Pre-1978 rental units in Maryland must be registered for lead risk reduction compliance
6. California Civil Code § 1950.5: California tenants have the right to an initial move-out inspection with at least 48 hours' notice from the landlord
7. Ohio Revised Code § 5321.04: Ohio landlords must maintain habitable premises and comply with housing codes, and are prohibited from retaliatory conduct under a related section