Frederick, MD Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Heat requirement
- 68°F maintained Oct 1 - May 1
- Ceiling height minimum
- 7 feet (IPMC 404.3)
- Door lock standard
- Deadbolt required, IPMC 304.18.1
- Habitable room window
- At least one window, IPMC 403.1
- Enforcement
- Dept. of Public Works inspections
- Non-compliance result
- License revocation after 3rd inspection
Summary
Frederick sets minimum habitability standards for every licensed rental unit by adopting dozens of International Property Maintenance Code sections into its rental licensing law, covering heat, ventilation, egress, and structural condition. The Department of Public Works enforces the standards through inspections, and units that fail can lose their rental license.
(a)In general. Rental housing units subject to this article must be maintained in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to the minimum maintenance standards described in subsection (b) of this section.(b)Established. The provisions of the Property Maintenance Code of the City (as adopted in Sec. 12-5.1 of this chapter) and other requirements listed in this subsection are hereby established as the maintenance standards for purposes of this article. The captions given are for reference purposes only and do not modify any provision in any way.(1)Exterior requirements...(P)IPMC 304.18.1 Doors (deadbolt lock required);...(R)IPMC 308.1 Accumulation of rubbish or garbage.(2)Interior requirements...(J)IPMC 404.3 Minimum ceiling heights (7');...(R)IPMC 602.2 Residential occupancies (heat maintained at 68°F 10/1-5/1);...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Management Code: Supplement 13 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5-74 of the Frederick rental licensing law, enacted by Ordinance No. G-23-09 effective June 15, 2023, sets the minimum habitability standards every unit must meet to keep its rental license. Subsection (a) requires rental housing to comply with all applicable laws, and subsection (b) formally adopts, item by item, dozens of sections from the city's Property Maintenance Code (adopted at Sec. 1) as the article's maintenance standards. 1 (deadbolt locks required on doors). 1 (a functioning means of egress). Sec. 5-74(b) states these captions are for reference only and do not narrow the underlying code requirement, and that the more restrictive rule governs any conflict among referenced codes.
Compliance is checked through the Sec. 5-80 inspection program: at least 15% of licensed units are randomly inspected yearly, with 72 hours' notice, plus for-cause inspections. An owner who fails to correct a habitability violation after a third inspection can have the license revoked under Sec. 5-81, which under Sec. 5-83 triggers a 60-day notice to vacate for tenants, and Sec. 5-85 bars an owner from retaliating against a tenant because of action taken under this article.
Violations & Fines
Renting a unit that fails the Sec. 12.5-74 maintenance standards is enforced through the inspection cycle in Sec. 12.5-80: a notice of violation, a second inspection, and, if the third inspection still finds noncompliance, license revocation under Sec. 12.5-81, which forces a 60-day tenant notice to vacate under Sec. 12.5-83. Renting without a valid license is separately a municipal infraction punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 per day under Sec. 12.5-84.
Frequently Asked Questions
What habitability standards must a Frederick rental meet?
Who enforces habitability standards in Frederick rentals?
What happens if my landlord won't fix a habitability problem?
Can my landlord retaliate if I report a maintenance problem?
Sources & Official References
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