Showing ordinances that apply to South Kensington, MD
South Kensington is an unincorporated community (population 8,829) in Montgomery County, Maryland. Because South Kensington is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Montgomery County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The occupancy limits rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Montgomery County limits short-term rental occupancy as part of the Chapter 54 licensing program. Maximum occupancy is typically tied to the number of bedrooms and must be stated on the license application. The 120-day annual cap limits total rental nights per property per year.
Montgomery County Code Chapter 54 establishes occupancy limits for licensed short-term rentals to prevent residential properties from functioning as de facto event venues or hotels. The maximum number of guests must be declared on the license application and is generally tied to the number of legal bedrooms as determined by building code standards (egress windows, ceiling height, minimum square footage). The 120-day annual cap is a defining feature of Montgomery County STR regulation, limiting the total number of nights a property may be rented as an STR per calendar year. This cap distinguishes casual home-sharing from commercial hospitality operations. Operators must maintain a log of rental nights to demonstrate compliance. The county may audit rental records and cross-reference with booking platform data. Properties that exceed the 120-day cap or approved occupancy face license enforcement action. The occupancy limit includes all overnight guests, and the property must have adequate bathroom facilities and life safety systems (smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers) for the stated occupancy.
Exceeding occupancy: citation and potential license suspension. Exceeding 120-day cap: license revocation and back taxes on excess nights. Operating over capacity with life safety deficiencies compounds penalties.
See how South Kensington's occupancy limits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.