How Annapolis Handles Short-Term Rentals: A Practical Guide

Annapolis maintains 127 local ordinances across all categories, and 7 of those deal specifically with short-term rentals. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Annapolis falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Extended Home Share

Annapolis caps non-owner-occupied short-term rentals at 10% of homes per blockface, with owner-occupied hosting fully exempt from the cap.

Key details: Non-owner-occupied cap: 10% of blockface units. Small blockface cap: 1 license under 10 units. Owner-occupied: Fully exempt from cap. Phase-in ends: November 1, 2027. Appeal body: Building Board of Appeals.

Licenses on over-cap blockfaces are non-transferable and expire on sale or assignment; the Director denies new non-owner-occupied licenses once a blockface hits its cap. Denials, suspensions and revocations appeal to the Building Board of Appeals under § 17.44.100 via the § 17.40.880 procedure.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Annapolis actively enforces its extended home share requirements.

Repeat Violator Strikes

Annapolis revokes or denies a short-term rental license after three verified nuisance violations at the property, with the Director of Planning and Zoning acting as final arbiter of each complaint's validity.

Key details: Threshold: 3 verified nuisance violations. Deciding official: Director of Planning and Zoning. Who can flag violations: Director or Annapolis Police Dept.. Notice requirement: Owner/manager notified each complaint. Outcome: License denial or revocation.

A third verified nuisance violation triggers denial of a pending license application or revocation of an existing one; fines for violating § 17.44.090 are also set by City Council resolution.

Compared to other cities, Annapolis takes a harder line on repeat violator strikes. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Noise Rules

Excessive noise, traffic, or unruly behavior tied to a short-term rental is grounds for Annapolis to deny, suspend, or revoke the property's license, and three verified nuisance complaints trigger automatic license review.

Key details: Trigger: Excessive noise, traffic, unruly behavior. Decided by: City Manager or designee. Automatic review: 3 verified nuisance violations. Nuisance includes: 3+ police calls in 180 days. Notice: Owner/manager notified each complaint.

License denial, suspension, or revocation for the property; three verified nuisance complaints (incl. 3+ police calls in 180 days) trigger mandatory review under § 17.44.090(H).

Compared to other cities, Annapolis takes a harder line on noise rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Host Platform Liability

Annapolis bars listing a property on any short-term hosting platform before a license issues, requires the license number in every platform ad, and makes the Department notify all platforms directly when a license is suspended or revoked.

Key details: Listing bar: No platform listing before licensure. Ad disclosure: License number required on every platform ad. Platform notice: Department notifies platforms of suspension/revocation. Penalty: Fines set annually by City Council resolution.

Listing before licensure, omitting the license number from a platform ad, or continuing to advertise after suspension or revocation exposes the licensee to fines set annually by City Council resolution under § 17.44.090(H)(3), plus possible license denial or revocation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Annapolis actively enforces its host platform liability requirements.

Taxes & Fees

Annapolis requires short-term rental licensees to register with the state comptroller for sales and use tax and with Anne Arundel County for hotel occupancy tax before a license issues.

Key details: State registration: Comptroller of Maryland sales/use tax. County registration: Anne Arundel County hotel occupancy tax. City tax: No separate municipal lodging tax. Enforcement: Grounds for denial or revocation.

Failure to maintain state and county tax registration is a licensing requirement under § 17.44.090(H)(1)(a); the Director can deny, suspend or revoke the license, and § 17.44.090(H)(3) sets fines by annual City Council resolution.

Occupancy Limits

Annapolis short-term rental licenses require at least one occupant over age 21 for the entire stay, cap any single tenant's stay at 90 days, and tie the maximum overnight occupant count to Chapter 17.40's floor-area standards.

Key details: Minimum adult occupant age: Over 21, entire rental term. Max stay per tenant: 90 days maximum. Occupant cap source: Tied to Chapter 17.40 floor-area rules. First-occupant floor area: 150 sq ft habitable floor area. Enforcement: Director of Planning and Zoning.

Renting to a household with no occupant over 21, exceeding the 90-day single-tenant cap, or exceeding Chapter 17.40's floor-area occupant limits is grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of the short-term rental license under § 17.44.090(H), plus City fines.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Annapolis requires a short-term rental license before a property may be listed on any hosting platform, and the license holder must be the property owner.

Key details: License required: Before the property is listed on any hosting platform. License holder: Must be the property owner, not a tenant, manager or agent. Application must identify: Owner, property manager, homeowner or property association, and hosting platforms. Completeness: Applications are considered only after all questions are completed. Also required: The premises must meet the applicable requirements of Chapter 17.40.

Listing a property on a short-term hosting platform before obtaining the license violates section 17.44.090(B)(1). An incomplete application will not be considered under subsection (B)(2). A license issued to anyone other than the property owner does not satisfy subsection (B)(3)(a). Denial, non-renewal, suspension or revocation may be appealed to the Building Board of Appeals under section 17.44.100 following section 17.40.880.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Annapolis actively enforces its short-term rental permits requirements.

The Bottom Line

Annapolis is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Annapolis, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Annapolis's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.