Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Baltimore?

**Yes**, Baltimore requires a Short-Term Rental License for stays under 30 days. You need to apply for a license through the city, which costs $200 biennially. Operating without this verified permit can result in fines. The property must be your primary residence to qualify. *(55 words)*

What is the TOT tax rate in Baltimore?

**9.5% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Baltimore. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city. Note that Airbnb and VRBO may automatically collect a portion of this tax in certain jurisdictions. *(52 words)*

Are short-term rentals allowed in Baltimore?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Baltimore, but only as long as the property is the host's primary residence. You can only rent unhosted stays for a maximum of 90 nights per year. Ensure you obtain the required Short-Term Rental License before listing your property. *(54 words)*

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Baltimore?

**Yes**, you must live in the property to rent it on Airbnb in Baltimore. The city requires that short-term rentals be located within the host's primary residence. This regulation aims to prevent the proliferation of investment properties used solely for short-term rentals, ensuring compliance. *(51 words)*

How many nights per year can I rent my property in Baltimore?

**90 nights per year** is the maximum for unhosted short-term rentals in Baltimore. This night cap applies to rentals where the host is not present during the guest's stay. If you plan to rent your property for more than 90 nights, you must be present during the rental period. *(55 words)*

Baltimore

Prohibited

MarylandUpdated Apr 12, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in Baltimore City are strictly limited to the owner's primary residence. Hosts must obtain a biennial license for a $200 fee and can only host unhosted stays for up to 90 days per year.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Moderate night cap: 90 nights/year
Standard permit fee: $200
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit90/year

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.2%

Permit fee$200

Processing time10-14 business days

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Primary Residence is MANDATORY; you cannot license a second property.
2The 90-night annual cap only applies to 'unhosted' stays.
3License numbers must be displayed in all online listings.
4Rentals built before 1978 must comply with Maryland lead-safe laws and be registered with MDE.
5HOA or condo bylaws that prohibit STRs supersede city permission.
6City of Baltimore is an independent city; rules differ significantly from Baltimore County.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility12 rules

Baltimore, MD: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.
Baltimore limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
Baltimore: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Baltimore: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.

Requirements18 rules

Baltimore has different permit classes: Owner-occupied Primary Residence. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Baltimore requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: 500,000. Evidence of liability insurance must be provided during registration.

Application process8 rules

How to set up an STR in Baltimore: To host an Airbnb in Baltimore City, you must live in the home you are renting for more than half the year. You cannot rent out investment properties or second homes for short stays. You need to apply for a $200 license that lasts two years, and you are limited to 90 nights per year if you are not present during the guest's stay. There is no night limit if you are staying in the home with the guest.

Fees & costs1 rule

Baltimore charges a registration fee of $200 (biennial).

Taxes2 rules

Baltimore charges a Hotel Tax of 9.5%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO have collection agreements with Baltimore City.
Maryland has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

Baltimore, MD: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Baltimore limits STRs to a maximum of 2 guests. Formula: 2 guests per bedroom, maximum 8 total per unit
Baltimore limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.
Baltimore: The 90-night annual cap only applies to 'unhosted' stays.

Safety requirements1 rule

Baltimore requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress must be maintained, Must comply with Maryland lead paint laws if applicable.

Penalties5 rules

Baltimore, MD: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions5 rules

Baltimore, MD: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
Baltimore, MD: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Baltimore exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Baltimore

Prohibited

MarylandUpdated Apr 12, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Moderate night cap: 90 nights/year
Standard permit fee: $200
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit90/year

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.2%

Permit fee$200

Processing time10-14 business days

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Primary Residence is MANDATORY; you cannot license a second property.
2The 90-night annual cap only applies to 'unhosted' stays.
3License numbers must be displayed in all online listings.
4Rentals built before 1978 must comply with Maryland lead-safe laws and be registered with MDE.
5HOA or condo bylaws that prohibit STRs supersede city permission.
6City of Baltimore is an independent city; rules differ significantly from Baltimore County.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility12 rules

Baltimore, MD: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.
Baltimore limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
Baltimore: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Baltimore: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.

Requirements18 rules

Baltimore has different permit classes: Owner-occupied Primary Residence. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Baltimore requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: 500,000. Evidence of liability insurance must be provided during registration.

Application process8 rules

How to set up an STR in Baltimore: To host an Airbnb in Baltimore City, you must live in the home you are renting for more than half the year. You cannot rent out investment properties or second homes for short stays. You need to apply for a $200 license that lasts two years, and you are limited to 90 nights per year if you are not present during the guest's stay. There is no night limit if you are staying in the home with the guest.

Fees & costs1 rule

Baltimore charges a registration fee of $200 (biennial).

Taxes2 rules

Baltimore charges a Hotel Tax of 9.5%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO have collection agreements with Baltimore City.
Maryland has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

Baltimore, MD: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Baltimore limits STRs to a maximum of 2 guests. Formula: 2 guests per bedroom, maximum 8 total per unit
Baltimore limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.
Baltimore: The 90-night annual cap only applies to 'unhosted' stays.

Safety requirements1 rule

Baltimore requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress must be maintained, Must comply with Maryland lead paint laws if applicable.

Penalties5 rules

Baltimore, MD: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions5 rules

Baltimore, MD: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
Baltimore, MD: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Baltimore exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Baltimore?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Baltimore?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Baltimore?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Baltimore?

5How many nights per year can I rent my property in Baltimore?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Baltimore?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Baltimore?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Baltimore?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Baltimore?

5How many nights per year can I rent my property in Baltimore?

Disclaimer