Queen Anne's County, MD Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)

The County Commissioners added the short-term rental standards by Ord. No. 24-09 on 11-26-2024. The code defines a short-term residential rental as the use and occupancy of a dwelling unit for a fee for less than 30 consecutive days through a hosting platform utilized by a transient occupant, and says it is not a bed-and-breakfast. Subsection J(1) states the purpose in plain terms: minimize adverse impacts on neighboring properties from frequent change over of guests, parking, unfamiliarity with property boundaries, and excessive noise.

Two hour limits carry the noise rule. Under J(2)(b)[3], every guest who is not an overnight occupant must vacate the property not later than 11:00 p.m. each day during the rental period. Under J(2)(c), outdoor amplified music is discontinued at 8:00 p.m. Both apply in every zoning district in unincorporated Queen Anne's County, including Kent Island, because J(2) permits short-term rentals in dwelling units in all zoning districts only if the listed conditions are met. Centreville, Queenstown, Church Hill, Sudlersville, Barclay, Templeville and Millington are incorporated and use their own codes.

Crowd size is capped as well. With public sewer or water, overnight occupants who are 18 or older cannot exceed 10 or two persons per bedroom, whichever is less, and total guests at any one time cannot exceed 20 persons or the capacity of the sewer or water service, whichever is less. On private septic the limit is two persons per bedroom or the treatment capacity of the septic system.

The owner must also show the Department that the owner or a property manager is in Queen Anne's County or an adjacent Eastern Shore county and available at all times during the occupancy. Parties are a separate issue: J(2)(g) bars special events at a short-term rental unless the Board of Appeals grants conditional use approval. A zoning certificate is issued annually under § 18:1-138, and § 18:1-208 gives the Planning Director's staff the right of entry for inspection.