Is Airbnb legal in Baltimore, MD?
RestrictedAirbnb is restricted in Baltimore, MD
The STR must be the principal residence of an individual host (not a company), with a narrow exception for one grandfathered secondary unit. A host may hold at most two licenses, the license number must appear in every listing, and platforms must verify a valid license before listing.
Verified July 2026. Not legal advice. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Confirm with the city before you list.
Key rules at a glance
Permit or registration
Required
Primary residence only
Yes
Annual night cap
Not confirmed
Registration fee
$200
How short-term rentals work in Baltimore
The STR must be the principal residence of an individual host (not a company), with a narrow exception for one grandfathered secondary unit. A host may hold at most two licenses, the license number must appear in every listing, and platforms must verify a valid license before listing.
Only owner-occupants can run a short-term rental in Baltimore. Non-owner, investor-owned whole-home STRs are generally not permitted, which rules out the classic buy-and-Airbnb strategy here.
What it means for investors
Baltimore is a tough market for a non-owner-occupied short-term rental. If you own or want to buy here, a long-term rental or a house-hack (living in the property while renting part of it) is usually the more realistic play.
Last reviewed July 2026. Informational and educational only, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Verify the current ordinance with your local jurisdiction or counsel before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Is Airbnb legal in Baltimore?
The STR must be the principal residence of an individual host (not a company), with a narrow exception for one grandfathered secondary unit. A host may hold at most two licenses, the license number must appear in every listing, and platforms must verify a valid license before listing. This reflects the rules as of July 2026; confirm the current ordinance with the city before you list.
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Baltimore?
Yes. Baltimore requires a permit or registration to operate a short-term rental, and platforms increasingly require the permit number on the listing.
Can I run a non-owner-occupied Airbnb in Baltimore?
Generally no. Baltimore limits short-term rentals to the host's primary residence, so an investor-owned property you do not live in typically cannot be used as a whole-home STR.
Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent in Baltimore?
No specific annual night cap was confirmed for Baltimore, though minimum-stay rules or license caps may effectively limit operations. Check the ordinance.
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Baltimore?
Short-term rentals in Baltimore are generally subject to state and local lodging or occupancy taxes on top of income tax. Airbnb and VRBO collect some of these automatically, but not always all of them, so confirm the current rate and who remits it with Maryland and the city.