Baltimore Short Term Rental License: Rules, Limits, and What You Need to Know

When you're thinking about renting out a property in Baltimore for short stays, you're not just managing a listing—you're navigating a Baltimore short term rental license, a legal requirement for operating vacation rentals in the city and county. Also known as a vacation rental permit, this license isn't optional. Skip it, and you risk fines, forced shutdowns, or even losing your ability to rent at all. The city treats short term rentals like any other business, and that means rules around registration, occupancy limits, and safety standards aren’t suggestions—they’re enforceable law.

What makes this even trickier is that Baltimore County, the area surrounding the city with its own separate regulations. Also known as Baltimore County rental rules, it has stricter caps on how many people can stay in a rental—two per bedroom plus one extra. If you ignore that, you’re not just breaking a rule—you’re creating a fire hazard and inviting a visit from code enforcement. This isn’t just about numbers. It ties directly to how you design your space, what you list online, and how you screen guests. And it’s not just Baltimore County. Rental registration, the process of officially recording your property with local authorities. Also known as property registration, is required whether you’re renting out a basement suite or a whole house. Without it, your insurance might not cover damages, and you could be held liable if something goes wrong.

Many people assume that if they’re not running a hotel, they don’t need to worry about permits. But the reality is different. The city tracks rentals through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. If your listing shows up and you haven’t registered, you’re already flagged. You don’t need to be a big operator to get caught. Even a one-time weekend rental can trigger a complaint from a neighbor or an automated system. The city doesn’t wait for you to ask for permission—they’re watching.

So what’s next? You need to know the limits, the paperwork, and the real costs—not just the listing price. That’s why the posts below cover everything from how many people can legally stay in a Baltimore rental, to what happens when you ignore the rules, to how other cities handle similar cases. There’s no guesswork here. Just clear, practical facts from people who’ve been there. Whether you’re a first-time host or a seasoned investor, you’ll find what you need to stay legal—and profitable.