Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Baltimore?

Yes. Baltimore requires Short-Term Residential Rental License, and the fee is $200. 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.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Baltimore?

The Short-Term Residential Rental License fee in Baltimore 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.

How to get a short-term rental permit in Baltimore, MD (2026)

Baltimore requires Short-Term Residential Rental License — the fee is $200, renewed biennial. Here's how to get and keep it.

Permit at a glance

Permit required	Yes
Permit name	Short-Term Residential Rental License
Permit fee	$200
Renewal	Biennial

Step by step

1
Confirm your property is eligible
Baltimore restricts short-term rentals to your primary residence, so confirm the property qualifies before applying. 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.
2
Apply for the Short-Term Residential Rental License
Submit the Short-Term Residential Rental License application to Baltimore and pay the $200 fee. 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.
3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Baltimore. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews biennial — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.

STR rules change without warning.

Get an email the moment Baltimore changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

Watch Baltimore for changes →

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Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Baltimore before applying.

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