Short-Term Rentals in Howard County, MD (2026)

4 rules for unincorporated Howard County, Maryland.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Howard County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Howard County has no dedicated short-term-rental permit. Under the Zoning Regulations, renting sleeping accommodations to transient guests on a daily or weekly basis is a Hotel or Motel use, which is only allowed in commercial and mixed-use zoning districts, not by right in residential neighborhoods.

No STR Permit. Transient Rental Is a Hotel Use

Heavy Restrictions

Howard County Zoning Regulations Section 103.0 (Hotel or Motel)

Hotel or Motel: Any building or portion thereof or group of buildings containing guest rooms in which, for compensation, lodging is provided to transient guests on a daily, weekly, or similar short term basis.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Howard County levies a 7% room rental tax on charges to visitors who stay 30 or fewer consecutive days. The Rental Housing License fee is $93.50 per dwelling unit, biennial. Note the county room tax legally reaches 'hotels' with five or more rooms for rent.

7% Room Rental Tax + $93.50 Biennial License Fee

Heavy Restrictions

Howard County Code Sec. 20.401

There is a tax in Howard County on hotel room rental charges to visitors. The rate of the room rental tax shall be seven percent of the room rental charge.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Howard County sets no short-term-rental-specific overnight-guest cap, because it has no STR program. The one residential transient-lodging use it defines, a Bed and Breakfast Inn, is capped at six guest rooms and limited to historic buildings or farms under agricultural preservation easement.

No STR Guest Cap. B&B Inns Limited to Six Rooms

Some Restrictions

Howard County Zoning Regulations Section 103.0 (Bed and Breakfast Inn)

Bed and Breakfast Inn: A historic building, or a building on a farm with an agricultural land preservation easement, in which, for compensation, sleeping accommodations are provided to transient guests in not more than six guest rooms. A bed and breakfast inn may include the provision of meals for overnight guests only.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Howard County has no 'primary residence only' STR rule, because it authorizes no STR use to condition on residency. The Zoning Regulations define a 'Dwelling' as living facilities for one family and expressly exclude accommodations used for transient occupancy.

No Primary-Residence Rule. Transient Use Excluded From Dwellings

Heavy Restrictions

Howard County Zoning Regulations Section 103.0 (Dwelling)

Dwelling: A building, or portion thereof, which provides living facilities for one family. As used herein, the term "dwelling," or any combination thereof, shall not be deemed to include a hotel, motel, clubhouse, hospital or other accommodations used for more or less transient occupancy.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Howard County ordinances

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