Baltimore County, MD Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual night cap
- None in the code
- Max stay per guest
- 30 consecutive days
- STR definition
- No more than 30 consecutive days
- Code section
- Balt. Co. Code 35-6-208(A)
- Longer stays
- Need long-term rental license
Summary
Baltimore County sets no annual night cap on STR operation, but defines a short-term rental as occupancy of no more than 30 consecutive days, and a rental may not be rented for more than 30 consecutive days by the same guest. Longer stays fall outside the STR license.
A short-term rental may not be rented for more than 30 consecutive days by the same guest.(b)(1)Except for paragraph (2) of this subsection, the maximum number of guests that may occupy a short-term rental at any given time shall be limited by:(i)The number of bedrooms in the short-term rental;(ii)The number of provided parking spaces; and(iii)If applicable, the capacity of the septic system that serves the short-term rental.(2)Regardless of whether more guests may be permitted due to the number of bedrooms, parking spaces, or septic system capacity, the maximum number of guests that may occupy a short-term rental at any given time is:(i)8 guests in a single-family detached dwelling; and(ii)6 guests in a single-family attached or single-family semi-detached dwelling.(c)Unless otherwise modified by the Director at the time of license issuance or renewal, a short-term rental may host no more than 2 guests per bedroom.(d)A short-term rental shall provide a minimum of one parking space per 2 guests.(e)If a short-term rental is served by a septic system, the maximum number of guests may not exceed the maximum capacity of the individual sewage disposal system, as approved by the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability. (Bill No. 68-24, § 1, 9-23-2024)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Baltimore County Code 35-6-201 defines a short-term rental as a residential dwelling leased for occupancy for a period of no more than 30 consecutive days. Consistent with that, 35-6-208(A) provides that a short-term rental may not be rented for more than 30 consecutive days by the same guest. The enacted subtitle contains no annual night cap or maximum number of rental days per year, so unlike some jurisdictions Baltimore County does not limit how many nights per year a licensed rental may be booked. The 30-consecutive-day line is also the boundary for transient-occupancy taxation; for tax exemption purposes, non-transient means more than 90 consecutive days (Code 11-4-401).
Violations & Fines
Renting to the same guest for more than 30 consecutive days is outside the short-term rental definition and license; longer tenancies require a long-term rental license under Subtitle 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent per year in Baltimore County?
What counts as a short-term rental in Baltimore County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baltimore County
Compare Baltimore County to another location·View the Maryland short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.