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.
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 as of 2023.
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.
See how other cities in Montgomery County handle registration rules.
See how Rockville's registration rules rules stack up against other locations.
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