Howard County, MD Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Max one rental license per ADU property at a time
- Family exception
- Renting to immediate family needs no license
- First offense fine
- $2,500
- Escalation
- $5,000, then permanent revocation
- Continuing fine
- $100 per day post-revocation
- Enforcing dept.
- Inspections, Licenses and Permits
Summary
A Howard County property with an accessory dwelling unit can have only one of its two dwellings under a rental license at a time. The owner has to live in the other one, since a license is only required when a unit is rented to someone outside the owner's immediate family. Renting both units out simultaneously violates the licensing subtitle.
(1)The owner of a property improved with an ADU shall:(i)Maintain a rental license and comply with all applicable provisions of the County Code and Zoning Regulations for either the principal or accessory dwelling on the property if occupied by someone other than the property owner or a member of the property owner's immediate family; and ... (2)Only one dwelling on the property may hold a rental license at a time.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 91 | Zoning: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 14.901(l)(2) states plainly that only one dwelling on an ADU property may hold a rental license at a time. That cap works together with Sec. 14.901(l)(1)(i), which only requires a rental license for whichever dwelling, principal or accessory, is occupied by someone other than the property owner or a member of the owner's immediate family; renting to family doesn't trigger the license requirement or count against the cap. Combined with the owner-occupancy affidavit required at Sec. 14.901(l)(1)(ii), the practical effect is that an ADU property can be licensed to rent out either the main house or the accessory unit to an outside tenant, but never both at once, because the owner (or an immediate family member) must remain in the other dwelling. The Director of Inspections, Licenses and Permits enforces this alongside the rest of the rental licensing subtitle, including inspection and right-of-entry authority under Sec. 14.902.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Sec. 14.901(l), including holding two active rental licenses on one ADU property, carries a civil penalty of $2,500 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second offense, and permanent revocation of the rental license for any subsequent offense, with a $100-per-day fine for continuing the violation after revocation (Sec. 14.905(d)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent out both the main house and the ADU in Howard County?
Does renting to my adult child count against the one-license rule?
What if I already have both units rented out?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howard County
Compare Howard County to another location·View the Maryland accessory structures overview
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