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  1. Home
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  5. Maryland
  6. ·
  7. Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake

Moderate
MarylandUpdated Apr 12, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 8, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Deep Creek Lake STRs are regulated through a mandatory Transient Vacation Rental Unit (TVRU) license program managed by Garrett County.

Restriction level

Severity 10
Classification
Moderate
10
Severity

Why this classification

  • Tenants cannot host
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

Property owners must obtain a TVRU license from the county, which requires a fire safety inspection and specific insurance. Occupancy is strictly limited based on the number of bedrooms, and owners must provide bear-proof trash containers and a local contact person available 24/7.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$600
Processing time2-4 weeks
Max fine$1,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Bear-resistant trash containers are mandatory and strictly enforced to prevent wildlife interference.
  2. 2A local contact person living within 30 minutes of the property must be available 24/7 to respond to complaints.
  3. 3The 2 persons per bedroom plus 4 rule is the maximum, but it is frequently reduced by the Health Department based on septic system ratings.
  4. 4One off-street parking space is required per bedroom.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility6 rules
  • Deep Creek Lake allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family Dwelling, Townhouse, Condominium, Duplex.
  • Deep Creek Lake does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Deep Creek Lake prohibits STRs in the following property types: RV, Tent, Commercial buildings not zoned for residential use.
Requirements11 rules
  • Deep Creek Lake: A local contact person living within 30 minutes of the property must be available 24/7 to respond to complaints.
  • Deep Creek Lake: Bear-resistant trash containers are mandatory and strictly enforced to prevent wildlife interference.
  • Deep Creek Lake STR warning: A local contact person living within 30 minutes of the property must be available 24/7 to respond to complaints.
Application process6 rules
  • Deep Creek Lake STR permit - Step 2: Schedule Fire Safety Inspection. Arrange for an inspection by the Maryland State Fire Marshal or a county-approved third-party inspector to ensure compliance with Chapter 159 fire safety codes. Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 150.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Garrett County charges a registration fee of $600 (biennial).
Taxes2 rules
  • Maryland has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.
  • Garrett County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.08%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
Limits & restrictions1 rule
  • Deep Creek Lake: The 2 persons per bedroom plus 4 rule is the maximum, but it is frequently reduced by the Health Department based on septic system ratings.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Garrett County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection.
Penalties1 rule
  • Garrett County enforces penalties: First offense: $250 fine. Maximum fine: 1000.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Deep Creek Lake: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Deep Creek Lake exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Deep Creek Lake

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Initial Zoning and Septic Verification

Contact the Planning & Land Management office to verify that the property's zoning and septic capacity support the intended occupancy level.

1-3 daysFree
Documents needed
  • Property Address
  • Map/Parcel Number
Official resource
Step 2

Schedule Fire Safety Inspection

Arrange for an inspection by the Maryland State Fire Marshal or a county-approved third-party inspector to ensure compliance with Chapter 159 fire safety codes.

1-2 weeks$150
Official resource
Step 3

Register for Transient Occupancy Tax

Register the property with the Garrett County Tax Office to obtain a tax ID number for reporting the 8% room tax.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Owner Contact Information
  • Federal Tax ID or SSN
Official resource
Step 4

Submit TVRU License Application

Submit the final application along with the biennial fee and proof of insurance to the Department of Planning & Land Management.

10-14 business days$600
Documents needed
  • Completed TVRU Application
  • Passed Inspection Report
  • Liability Insurance Certificate
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 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

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