Short-term rental permit rules in Harford County, MD — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Maryland has no statewide short-term rental permit. In Harford County, hosts license locally: Bel Air and Havre de Grace both require an annual short-term rental license, and the owner or caretaker must be located within Harford County.
No single Maryland statute licenses short-term rentals, so the requirement is local across Harford County. The Town of Bel Air requires a short-term rental license under Ordinance 846-25, with the owner or a caretaker located within Harford County, no rental-related signage, annual operating fees, and inspection without notice; the license can be revoked. Havre de Grace licenses rentals under Chapter 147, Article II, available online, with a life-safety inspection. Unincorporated Harford County regulates rentals through zoning and county hotel occupancy tax registration. Every operator must also register with the Comptroller of Maryland to collect state tax.
Operating an unlicensed rental in Bel Air or Havre de Grace risks fines, denial or revocation of the license, and county tax penalties.
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See how Harford County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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