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Anne Arundel County, MD Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Registration fee
$100, two-year term
Unit cap
Max 2 dwellings per host
Minimum stay
24 hours
Agency
Dept. of Inspections and Permits
First-violation fine
$500 (Class C offense)

Summary

Anne Arundel County requires anyone renting out a dwelling unit for a short-term stay to first register with the Department of Inspections and Permits and display the registration number in every listing.

City-specific rules exist: Annapolis has its own rental registration rules that differ from Anne Arundel County's county-level regulations. If you live in Annapolis, check the city-specific page instead.

A host may not enter into a short-term residential rental agreement with a transient guest or rent a dwelling unit to a transient guest without first obtaining an approved registration from the Department. A host may not register more than two dwelling units as short-term residential rentals. ... The fee for the registration or renewal of a short-term residential rental is $100.00.

Source: Anne Arundel County Code Art. 11, Title 10 (Multiple Dwellings & Rooming Houses)View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-93: County Code is current through May, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Before renting to a transient guest, a host must get an approved registration from the Department of Inspections and Permits; renting without one is prohibited. A host may register no more than two dwelling units, must list all hosting platforms used and update that list within 10 days of any change, must supply the registration number to each platform, and must post a sign inside the unit showing it is registered. Registration costs $100, lasts two years, and cannot be transferred if the property is sold.

Violations & Fines

Renting without a valid registration, exceeding the two-unit cap, or failing to display the registration number is a Class C civil offense: $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for each later one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register a rental in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
Yes: these are unincorporated communities governed directly by the county code, so the same registration rule applies; there is no separate city process to check.
Can I rent out more than two properties?
No. A host may register at most two dwelling units, and units tied to the same owner or business interest count toward that same cap.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Anne Arundel County

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsRepairs & HabitabilitySome RestrictionsJust Cause EvictionSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesLight RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseFew RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue PermitsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Anne Arundel County rules

Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland rental property rules overview

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Rental Registration in Cities Across Anne Arundel County

Annapolis, MD