Rental License Requirements

Learn about rental license requirements, including county and municipal requirements, and discover related resources.

Introduction

A common reason for a landlord to seek to evict a tenant is for the nonpayment of rent. Some counties and cities in Maryland require landlords to have a current rental property license. Often the purpose of the licensing requirement is to make sure that rental properties meet building code requirements for habitability. If a local government requires a license, and a landlord does not have a license, the landlord cannot bring a failure to pay rent action in District Court. Therefore, it is important for landlords and tenants to be aware of their county or municipal laws. To see if a property has the required license, contact the county or municipality where the property is located.

Some localities also require licenses for short term leasing, such as AirBnB or Vrbo. This page provides searchable lists of county laws and municipal laws with links to related resources.

County Laws