Baltimore County, Maryland Short Term Rental Regulations

[Sue2009]

Hi All,

I would appreciate insight from fellow Baltimore County (not City), MD Airbnb hosts on the process you followed to legally Airbnb.  

I've contacted the Baltimore County rental licensing office, the Maryland State Lead Certification/Registration Office, the county's zoning office, AND an attorney. I'm receiving conflicting information and have not received clear instructions. 

The rental licensing office said that I have to register my property the same way as I would for a long-term rental (rental inspection + lead inspection as my home was built before '78). I did both the rental and lead inspection, then contacted the lead certification office to be told that since I'm doing short term renting, they actually don't require that I register my home with them, which contradicts the rental licensing office. 

I reached out to an attorney seeking better guidance and was told that he wasn't aware of formal regulations the county has for STRs and suggested I reached out to zoning for whatever informal process there may be. Zoning redirected me back to the licensing office. 

It's frustrating how I can't seem to be given a clear answer to a should be straightforward question. Please share if you've received better/more clear guidance on the process!

Thanks very much.

[Annie1372]

@Sue2009 

Did you look to see see if your area had a local hits club that could help you with your issue.
https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Discussions-locales/ct-p/en_clubs


Good luck in your research

[Doug1213]

@Sue2009 @Annie1372 I am looking into the same issue now...were you able to get any final guidance?  Thanks

[Amanda1040]

I would be interested in connecting about this. I am also in Baltimore County. 

[Emilie]

Hi @Amanda1040, 

Have you tried joining the Maryland State Airbnb Host Community to ask other hosts from the area for their experience with local regulations?

Otherwise, perhaps @Jirigarthe0 @Danika24 @Bruce754 @Christian4290 or @Darlene281, who are also nearby, might have more information 🙂

I hope this helps!

Emilie

[Danika24]

I’m in Baltimore City, not in the County, so I can’t really help. In the City, the process was extremely easy, though … the turnaround for getting a response was a little long (a couple of weeks), but otherwise no issues at all. 

[Emilie]

Apologies @Danika24, I did not realise the process might be different! Thank you so much for popping in and sharing your experience regardless, really appreciate it. 🙂