Rockville, MD Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Rockville, MD, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- License Required
- Before listing or hosting
- Annual Fee
- $500 STR, $150 B&B
- Processing
- 30-60 days
- Enforcement
- DHCA (since July 2024)
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 per offense
Summary
MoCo requires a DHCA license before listing or hosting STR guests. Applications take 30 to 60 days. Annual fee is $500. No license means fines up to $1,000.
Licensing and Registration is responsible for issuing rental licenses to over 100,000 condominiums, single-family homes, multi-family units, and accessory dwelling units under Montgomery County Code, Chapter 29, Landlord-Tenant Regulations. In addition, the unit registers 1,100 homeowner and condominium associations known as Common Ownership Communities under Chapter 10B, Common Ownership Communities. Annually, Licensing and Registration conducts Montgomery County's Rental Housing Survey on area rent, vacancies, turnover, utilities, and amenities, which is published on the CountyStat website. Rental Housing Licenses: Single-family or condominium owners who rent their properties, are required to obtain a rental housing license every year. Multi-Family Properties: Apartment and multi-family property owners are required to obtain and display an annual rental housing license covering all rented units in the property.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Montgomery County Code Chapter 54, as amended by Bill 22-23 effective July 1, 2024, requires all short-term residential rental operators to apply for and obtain a license from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) before listing or accepting guests. The license application requires proof of primary residence, property details, floor plans showing bedrooms, parking availability, and insurance attestation. DHCA must approve or deny applications within 30 to 60 days of receipt. The annual license fee is $500 for short-term rentals and $150 for bed-and-breakfast operations.
Licenses must be renewed annually. The license number must be displayed on all listing platforms. DHCA may inspect the property before issuing a license and may conduct periodic compliance inspections. Previously, enforcement was handled by the Department of Health and Human Services, but Bill 22-23 transferred responsibility to DHCA. The City of Rockville is technically exempt from the county STR law as a municipality with its own zoning authority, but the county framework applies in the absence of specific Rockville ordinances. Rockville was considering adopting its own registration requirements in 2023.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license is a Class A civil violation with penalties up to $1,000 for initial and repeat offenses. DHCA can issue cease-and-desist orders and refer unlicensed operators to county attorneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to run a short-term rental in Rockville?
What changed with Bill 22-23?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockville
How Rockville compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Rockville to another location·View the Maryland short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Montgomery County handle short-term rental permits.