Washington County, MD Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Article 2 of the Livability Code for Washington County, Maryland sets the minimum property standards that apply to every residential rental structure in the unincorporated county; owner-occupied housing and structures exempted by the Department under state regulation are the only carve-outs (§ 2-201(a)). Under § 2-206(b), a property owner may not rent or lease a housing unit to another person for occupancy or use unless the structure and premises comply with the provisions of this Code, and only the property owner, not the tenant, is cited for a Code violation absent tenant-caused damage (§ 2-206(a)).

The Code requires each housing unit to have its own toilet room with cold running water, a sink near the toilet with hot and cold water, a bathing room with a tub or shower supplied with hot and cold water, and a separate kitchen sink with hot and cold water (§ 2-211(b)(2)). Water heating facilities must deliver water at not less than 110 degrees Fahrenheit (§ 2-211(e)(4)). Every habitable area must have sufficient natural or artificial light, and common halls and stairways in multi-unit buildings must be lit at all times with at least a 60-watt bulb per 200 square feet, spaced no more than 30 feet apart (§ 2-210(c)).

Mechanical ventilation systems must run continuously while any part of the structure is occupied (§ 2-210(d)(2)). Premises must be kept clean, safe, sanitary, and free of infestation (§ 2-207(b)). The Permits and Inspections Department's Code Official administers and enforces Article 2 and may inspect with consent, on reasonable notice, or under a court order (§ 1-103(c)).