Short-Term Rental Laws in Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore City limits STR to the operator's primary residence — the host must reside in the unit at least 180 days per year, verified via driver's license, voter registration, and at least two utility bills/tax records. The 2019 ordinance (Council Bill 18-0189) effectively prohibits non-owner-occupied investor STRs citywide. Operators may license a maximum of two units total — the primary residence plus one additional non-primary unit (the so-called "two-unit cap") with substantially tighter approval.

STRs are allowed in most residential zones (R-1 through R-10, OR Office-Residential, mixed-use) provided the primary-residence test is met. The binding gate is the 180-day residence requirement, not the zoning class. Multi-family buildings require landlord written consent. The Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Development administers a public STR license registry — verify any acquisition target against the registry to confirm a transferable license actually exists.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

STRs are limited to the operator's primary residence.

Baltimore Housing actively enforces with platform-data cross-checks. Operating without a license: civil citation up to $1,000 per day per violation. The 180-day residence test is re-verified at annual renewal. License is not transferable with the property — buying an STR-licensed home in Baltimore does not transfer the license; the new owner must qualify the property as their own primary residence and apply fresh. Multiple-unit operators (the rare "two-unit cap" holders) must demonstrate the non-primary unit meets additional life-safety and zoning standards.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Baltimore is approximately 15.500% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

Maryland State sales tax 6% + Baltimore City Hotel Room Tax 9.5% — combined ~15.5% on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.