Baltimore County, MD Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Baltimore County, MD, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Apply to
- Director, on required form
- Code section
- Balt. Co. Code 35-6-203, 35-6-204
- Must disclose
- Owners, bedrooms, hosted/un-hosted, parking
- Transferable
- No, not even on sale
- Inspection
- May be required before issuance
Summary
To register, a host submits the Director's application form and pays the fee. The form must list all owners and any agent, building type, number of bedrooms, hosted or un-hosted status, hosting platforms used, all guest parking spaces, proof of $1,000,000 liability insurance, and septic details. Licenses are non-transferable.
In order to obtain a short-term rental license, a host shall: (1) submit to the Director an application on the form the Director provides; and (2) pay to the Director the application fee... A short-term rental license is not transferrable to another host for any reason, including the sale of the short-term rental.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Under Baltimore County Code 35-6-203 and 35-6-204, a host obtains a license by submitting the Director's application form and paying the fee. The form must include contact information for all owners and any responsible agent; the building classification (single-family detached, attached, or semi-detached); the number of bedrooms; a hosted or un-hosted designation; the name and web address of every hosting platform; the number and location of all guest parking spaces (on/off-street, paved/unpaved, registered); proof of an active $1,000,000 liability policy; and whether the dwelling is on septic. A license is not transferable to another host, including on sale. The Director may require a Code Enforcement or Fire Marshal inspection before issuing or renewing.
Violations & Fines
Fraudulently or deceptively obtaining or using a license is grounds for the Director to deny, suspend, or revoke it. Appeals go to the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information does the Baltimore County STR application require?
Can I transfer my short-term rental license to a buyer?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baltimore County
How Baltimore County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Baltimore County to another location·View the Maryland short-term rentals overview
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