Baltimore County, MD Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- Must comply with Article 13
- Code section
- Balt. Co. Code 35-6-209(B)
- Response time
- Onsite within 60 minutes
- No event space
- Cannot advertise as venue
- License risk
- Article 13 violation, revocable
Summary
The STR ordinance requires hosts to ensure use of the rental abides by Article 13 of the County Code, which includes the noise controls. The host or a representative must be reachable by emergency services and onsite within 60 minutes to address problems such as noise.
At all times, the host shall ensure: ... (2) the use of the short-term rental abides by Article 13 of the Code and any other applicable County law or regulation; ... and ... the host or a representative of the host is available to respond to calls from emergency services and government agencies and to be onsite within 60 minutes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Baltimore County Code 35-6-209(B)(2) requires the host to ensure at all times that use of the short-term rental abides by Article 13 of the Code (Health, Environment and Sanitation, which houses the county noise provisions) and any other applicable county law or regulation. Rentals may not be advertised as private or public event spaces (35-6-209(A)(1)). Critically, 35-6-209(B) requires the host or a representative to be available to respond to calls from emergency services and government agencies and to be onsite within 60 minutes, which is the county's core mechanism for handling late-night noise and party complaints. Violating Title 4 or Title 7 of Article 13 is separately grounds to suspend or revoke the STR license (35-6-213(A)(5)).
Violations & Fines
A noise or nuisance violation of Article 13 is grounds to suspend or revoke the license under 35-6-213(A)(5); the underlying noise ordinance carries its own fines, and each day may be a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the noise rules for Baltimore County short-term rentals?
Does a Baltimore County STR host have to be reachable at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baltimore County
Compare Baltimore County to another location·View the Maryland short-term rentals overview
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