Short-Term Rental Laws in Baltimore, MD (2026)
Baltimore requires every short-term rental (stays under 90 nights) to hold a Short-Term Residential Rental License from the Housing Commissioner, and a license may only be issued for the host's permanent (principal) residence. New licenses are limited to hosted units where the owner lives on-site during stays; unhosted units can only renew grandfathered licenses, and no new unhosted licenses are issued. The biennial license fee is $200, and guests pay Maryland's 6% sales tax plus Baltimore's 9.5% hotel room tax.
Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 9 official sources. How we verify data
Baltimore STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Primary residence only |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short-Term Residential Rental License |
| Permit fee | $200 |
| Renewal | Biennial |
| Owner occupancy required | Yes |
| Primary residence only | Yes |
| Max units per owner | 1 |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~15.5% of gross revenue |
| Enforcement | Enforced by the Housing Commissioner (DHCD). The subtitle may be enforced by environmental citations under City Code Art. 1, Subtitle 40 (Environmental Control Board), in addition to license denial, suspension, or revocation (§§ 48-21 to 48-23) and criminal prosecution. Hosting platforms must verify license numbers before listing and remove unlawful listings within 3 days of notice (§ 48-16); hosts must display their license number in every listing (§ 48-15). |
| Current rules effective | 2019-12-31 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Baltimore stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Baltimore, MD — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Baltimore occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Maryland Sales and Use Tax (accommodations) (6%)· collection varies | $27.00 |
| Baltimore City Hotel Room Tax (9.5%)· collection varies | $42.75 |
| Total tax (15.5%) | $69.75 |
| Guest pays | $519.75 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Baltimore requires Short-Term Residential Rental License to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $200, renewed biennial.
City Code Art. 15, § 48-9 sets a biennial license fee of $200 per dwelling unit, 'subject to adjustment in accordance with the City Fee Policy.' The competing $300 figure traces to a secondary landlord blog (landlordfriend.com); adversarial re-check on 2026-07-20 re-confirmed $200 in the codified § 48-9 and found no published City Fee Policy adjustment. Verify current portal fee at renewal.
Zoning & location rules
Baltimore regulates STRs through citywide licensing rather than zone-by-zone permissions: any dwelling unit that is the host's principal residence may be licensed, and § 48-15 requires the unit to be maintained in compliance with the Zoning Code and Building/Fire/Health codes. There is no published list of STR-only zones or overlay districts; the practical restriction is the principal-residence rule, not zoning geography.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland Sales and Use Tax (accommodations)6% of the listing price including cleaning fees. Short-term rental platforms (Airbnb/Vrbo) are required to collect and remit; hosts booking directly must register with the Comptroller and remit themselves (registration is an STR license prerequisite under § 48-7). Airbnb also collects a 3% state tax on its service fees. | 6% | varies |
| Baltimore City Hotel Room Tax9.5% on gross amounts paid by transient guests (stays under 90 days; Airbnb applies it to reservations 89 nights and shorter, including cleaning fees). Airbnb collects and remits for its bookings; direct-booking hosts must register with the City Director of Finance and remit. From July 1, 2027, SB 979 (Ch. 638, 2025) centralizes intermediary remittance through the state Comptroller. | 9.5% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
Enforced by the Housing Commissioner (DHCD). The subtitle may be enforced by environmental citations under City Code Art. 1, Subtitle 40 (Environmental Control Board), in addition to license denial, suspension, or revocation (§§ 48-21 to 48-23) and criminal prosecution. Hosting platforms must verify license numbers before listing and remove unlawful listings within 3 days of notice (§ 48-16); hosts must display their license number in every listing (§ 48-15).
Violation of any provision of Subtitle 48 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 per offense, with each day a violation continues counting as a separate offense (§ 48-26). Violations can also trigger environmental citations and license suspension or revocation.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Getting legal in Baltimore: the playbook
Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.
- 1
Confirm you qualify
Baltimore limits short-term rentals to your primary residence — check this threshold before spending anything on applications. Investment properties generally do not qualify.
- 2
Verify your zoning
Location rules apply: Baltimore regulates STRs through citywide licensing rather than zone-by-zone permissions: any dwelling unit that is the host's principal residence may be licensed, and § 48-15 requires the unit to be maintained in compliance with the Zoning Code and Building/Fire/Health codes. There is no published list of STR-only zones or overlay districts; the practical restriction is the principal-residence rule, not zoning geography. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying.
- 3
Check the covenant layer
HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
- 4
Apply for the Short-Term Residential Rental License
Budget $200 (biennial renewal). City Code Art. 15, § 48-9 sets a biennial license fee of $200 per dwelling unit, 'subject to adjustment in accordance with the City Fee Policy.' The competing $300 figure traces to a secondary landlord blog (landlordfriend.com); adversarial re-check on 2026-07-20 re-confirmed $200 in the codified § 48-9 and found no published City Fee Policy adjustment. Verify current portal fee at renewal. Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.
- 5
Set up tax collection & remittance
Platforms don't collect everything here: Maryland Sales and Use Tax (accommodations) (6%), Baltimore City Hotel Room Tax (9.5%) are remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.
- 6
Configure your listing to the operating limits
Set your calendar and listing rules to respect the 1-unit-per-owner limit — platform delisting and fines in this market typically start with listings that visibly violate these limits.
- 7
Calendar the renewal before you forget it
This permit renews biennial (budget $200 again). Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.
- 8
Know the cost of getting it wrong
Violation of any provision of Subtitle 48 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 per offense, with each day a violation continues counting as a separate offense (§ 48-26). Violations can also trigger environmental citations and license suspension or revocation. Enforced by the Housing Commissioner (DHCD). The subtitle may be enforced by environmental citations under City Code Art. 1, Subtitle 40 (Environmental Control Board), in addition to license denial, suspension, or revocation (§§ 48-21 to 48-23) and criminal prosecution. Hosting platforms must verify license numbers before listing and remove unlawful listings within 3 days of notice (§ 48-16); hosts must display their license number in every listing (§ 48-15).
Recent rule changes in Baltimore
July 1, 2025
Airbnb began collecting 3% Maryland tax on service fees
Airbnb's Maryland tax collection now includes 'State Sales Tax: 3% on Airbnb service fees,' reflecting Maryland's 2025 expansion of sales tax to certain digital/IT services. This applies to the platform's service fee, not the nightly rate; the 6% accommodations rate is unchanged.
Official source →May 20, 2025
Maryland SB 979 signed (Chapter 638): centralized local hotel tax collection from intermediaries
SB 979, approved by the Governor on May 20, 2025, requires accommodations intermediaries (with at least $100,000 or 200 booking transactions) to remit local hotel rental taxes to the state Comptroller, which will distribute revenue to counties and municipalities. It changes how Baltimore's 9.5% hotel room tax is remitted for platform bookings, not the rate. Takes effect July 1, 2027.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Baltimore?
Airbnb is legal in Baltimore, MD, only for your primary residence — dedicated investment properties generally cannot be short-term rentals. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Baltimore?
Yes. Baltimore requires a Short-Term Residential Rental License to operate a short-term rental, which costs $200 and must be renewed biennial. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Baltimore short-term rental permit cost?
The Short-Term Residential Rental License costs $200 (biennial renewal). City Code Art. 15, § 48-9 sets a biennial license fee of $200 per dwelling unit, 'subject to adjustment in accordance with the City Fee Policy.' The competing $300 figure traces to a secondary landlord blog (landlordfriend.com); adversarial re-check on 2026-07-20 re-confirmed $200 in the codified § 48-9 and found no published City Fee Policy adjustment. Verify current portal fee at renewal.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Baltimore?
Generally no. Baltimore limits short-term rentals to the operator's primary residence, which rules out running a dedicated investment property as a short-term rental in most cases. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Baltimore?
Hosts in Baltimore are subject to: Maryland Sales and Use Tax (accommodations) (6%), Baltimore City Hotel Room Tax (9.5%) — roughly 15.5% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›How many short-term rentals can I own in Baltimore?
Baltimore caps operators at 1 short-term rental unit, and the unit must be your primary residence. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in Baltimore?
No — in Baltimore hosts are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting the listed occupancy taxes themselves. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Baltimore?
Violation of any provision of Subtitle 48 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 per offense, with each day a violation continues counting as a separate offense (§ 48-26). Violations can also trigger environmental citations and license suspension or revocation. Enforced by the Housing Commissioner (DHCD). The subtitle may be enforced by environmental citations under City Code Art. 1, Subtitle 40 (Environmental Control Board), in addition to license denial, suspension, or revocation (§§ 48-21 to 48-23) and criminal prosecution. Hosting platforms must verify license numbers before listing and remove unlawful listings within 3 days of notice (§ 48-16); hosts must display their license number in every listing (§ 48-15).
›When did Baltimore's current short-term rental rules take effect?
The current ordinance took effect on December 31, 2019. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.
Baltimore's STR rules changed 2 times recently.
Get an email the moment Baltimore changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Baltimore for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
Related
Nearby covered markets
- Washington, DCPrimary residence only
- Harrisburg, PAUnregulated
- Philadelphia, PAPermit required
- Rehoboth Beach, DEPermit required
- Cape May, NJPermit required
More resources
- How to get a short-term rental permit in Baltimore
- Baltimore short-term rental taxes explained
- Can I Airbnb in Baltimore?
- All Maryland STR laws by city
- Occupancy tax calculator
- Compare STR permit costs across cities
- Baltimore ranks among cheapest str permit cities
- Baltimore ranks among highest str occupancy tax cities
- STR city rankings: strictest, cheapest permits & more
- What is a primary-residence requirement?
- What is transient occupancy tax?
- Best STR compliance tools, compared
- Latest STR rule changes nationwide
Sources
- Short-Term Rentals — Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Developmentretrieved July 20, 2026
- Baltimore City Code, Art. 15, Subtitle 48 — Short-Term Residential Rentalsretrieved July 20, 2026
- Baltimore City Code § 48-7 — Licensing prerequisites (permanent residence)retrieved July 20, 2026
- Baltimore City Code § 48-9 — License feeretrieved July 20, 2026
- Baltimore City Code § 48-8 — License term and renewalretrieved July 20, 2026
- Baltimore City Code § 48-26 — Criminal penaltiesretrieved July 20, 2026
- Baltimore City Code, Art. 28, § 21-2 — Hotel Room Tax imposedretrieved July 20, 2026
- Airbnb Help Center — Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Marylandretrieved July 20, 2026
- Maryland General Assembly — SB 979 (2025) Fiscal and Policy Note (Ch. 638)retrieved July 20, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Baltimore and a qualified professional before operating.