How Many People Can Rent a House in Baltimore County? Rules and Limits Explained
Baltimore County Rental Occupancy Calculator
Calculate Maximum Occupants
Legal Occupancy Limit
Based on Baltimore County's occupancy regulations: 2 people per bedroom + 1 additional person
Important: This calculation assumes your property is properly registered with Baltimore County. If your registration doesn't match your current occupancy, you may face fines up to $2,000 and eviction risks.
There’s no fixed number like "five people max" written in stone when it comes to renting a house in Baltimore County. But that doesn’t mean anyone can move in. The real answer lives in zoning laws, fire codes, and how the property is registered with the county. If you’re a landlord trying to rent out a four-bedroom house to a big group-or a tenant wondering if your friend can crash on the couch-you need to know what’s actually allowed.
It’s About Occupancy, Not Just People
Baltimore County doesn’t count renters by name. It counts occupancy units. That means the rule isn’t "you can have six people," it’s "you can have X number of people per bedroom, plus one extra for the living space." The standard formula used in most residential zones is: two people per bedroom, plus one additional person. So a three-bedroom house can legally house up to seven people. A two-bedroom? Five. A one-bedroom? Three.This rule comes from the International Residential Code, which Baltimore County adopted in 2023. It’s not about how many beds you have-it’s about how much floor space each person gets. The county requires at least 150 square feet per occupant in living areas and 70 square feet per person in bedrooms. A 1,200-square-foot house with three bedrooms can’t legally hold more than seven people, even if you add air mattresses everywhere.
What Happens If You Break the Rules?
Landlords who ignore occupancy limits face real consequences. In 2024, Baltimore County issued over 420 citations for overcrowding violations. Fines start at $500 per violation and go up to $2,000 if the issue isn’t fixed within 30 days. But it’s not just about money. Fire marshals inspect rentals regularly, especially in high-density areas like Towson, Lutherville, and Parkville. If they find too many people crammed into a house, they can shut it down immediately-no warning.And it’s not just the landlord who gets in trouble. Tenants living in illegally overcrowded homes can be evicted, even if they didn’t cause the problem. In one case last year, a family of eight was forced to leave a rented home in Essex because the property was registered as a two-bedroom unit. The county didn’t care that the landlord had allowed it for years. The paperwork didn’t match the reality.
Registration Matters More Than You Think
Every rental property in Baltimore County must be registered with the Department of Housing and Community Development. When you register, you declare how many bedrooms the house has. That number locks in the legal occupancy limit. You can’t just add a room later and assume it’s fine. If you convert a basement into a bedroom without getting a permit and updating the registration, you’re breaking the law-even if the space has a door, a window, and a closet.Registration also ties to utilities. The county cross-checks water and sewer usage with occupancy records. If a two-bedroom house is using the same amount of water as a five-bedroom home, they’ll send an inspector. They’ve caught several illegal rooming houses this way-places where landlords rented out single rooms to unrelated tenants, turning a house into an unofficial dormitory.
Exceptions? Yes-but They’re Rare
There are a few legal ways to go beyond the standard limits. One is if the property is registered as a group home. These are for people with disabilities or seniors who need assistance. They require special licensing from the Maryland Department of Health and can allow up to six residents, regardless of bedroom count. But you can’t just call your rental a "group home" to bypass the rules.Another exception is for immediate family members. If you’re renting to your adult child, their spouse, and their kids, the county usually doesn’t count them as separate tenants. But if those same people are unrelated friends, it’s a different story. The line between "family" and "tenants" is strict-and it’s based on legal documentation, not how close you are.
What About Short-Term Rentals?
If you’re thinking of renting out your house on Airbnb or Vrbo, the rules change again. Baltimore County bans short-term rentals in most residential zones unless the property is in a designated tourism area like Ocean City or Ocean Pines. Even then, you need a special permit, and occupancy limits still apply. A house listed as a "vacation rental" for six people can’t legally host eight guests-even for one night.Some landlords try to get around this by calling short-term renters "guests" instead of tenants. That doesn’t work. The county looks at how often people come and go. If someone stays more than 29 days, they’re considered a tenant. If you have rotating guests every few weeks, they’re still counted under occupancy rules.
How to Check Your Property’s Legal Limit
If you’re unsure what your house can legally hold, here’s how to find out:- Go to the Baltimore County Department of Housing and Community Development website.
- Use the Property Search tool. Enter your address.
- Look for the "Registered Occupancy" field under "Rental Information."
- Compare that number to your bedroom count. If it’s lower than two per bedroom plus one, your property may be under-registered.
You can also call the department directly at (410) 887-2500. They’ll tell you the registered number and whether your property is in compliance. If you’re a landlord and you’ve added a bedroom without updating the registration, fix it now. It’s cheaper than paying a fine.
What Tenants Should Watch For
If you’re renting, don’t just trust what the landlord says. Ask for a copy of the rental registration. Look for the number of bedrooms listed. If the house has four bedrooms but the registration says three, that’s a red flag. Ask why. If they hesitate or say "it’s not a big deal," walk away. You’re not just risking eviction-you’re risking your safety.Overcrowded homes are more likely to have faulty wiring, blocked exits, and mold from poor ventilation. In 2023, Baltimore County reported 17 fires in rental homes where occupancy exceeded legal limits. All of them had at least one blocked stairway or window.
Bottom Line: Know the Paperwork
There’s no magic number like "six people can live here." The rule is simple: two per bedroom, plus one. But the real key is registration. If the county’s records don’t match what’s happening inside the house, you’re breaking the law. Whether you’re renting out a house or moving into one, always check the official paperwork. Don’t assume. Don’t guess. The consequences aren’t worth it.Can I rent out rooms in my house to unrelated people in Baltimore County?
Yes, but only if the total number of people doesn’t exceed the legal occupancy limit based on your registered bedroom count. Each room you rent out counts as a separate tenancy. If your house is registered as a two-bedroom, you can’t legally rent to more than five people total-even if each person has their own room. You must also update your registration if you start renting rooms.
What if my family grows and I need more space?
If your family size increases and you’re already at the legal limit, you can apply to re-register your property with more bedrooms. But you can’t just add a room. You need to get a building permit, pass an inspection, and prove the new space meets safety standards for sleeping areas. Only then can you update your registration and increase your legal occupancy.
Do children count toward the occupancy limit?
Yes. Every person living in the home, including babies and toddlers, counts as an occupant. The rule isn’t "two adults per bedroom." It’s "two people per bedroom," regardless of age. A family of four with two young kids in a two-bedroom house is at the legal limit. Adding a third child would exceed it.
Can I have overnight guests without violating the rules?
Short-term guests who stay fewer than 29 days don’t count toward the occupancy limit. But if someone stays longer than that, they’re considered a tenant. If you regularly have different people staying for weeks at a time, the county may treat them as occupants-even if you call them "guests." Consistency matters more than labels.
What if my rental property is in a historic district?
Historic districts still follow the same occupancy rules. You can’t bypass the two-per-bedroom-plus-one rule just because the house is old. However, if the structure was built before 1940 and has fewer bedrooms than modern standards, you may be allowed to register additional sleeping areas if they meet safety codes. You’ll need to apply for a variance through the Historic Preservation Commission.
