Frederick approves rental licensing bill
Residential landlords in Frederick will have to register and obtain a license from the city and could face sanctions if their properties don’t meet basic health and safety standards, under a new ordinance the city’s aldermen approved Thursday.
The aldermen passed the ordinance 3-1, with Alderman Kelly Russell opposed and Alderman Derek Shackelford abstaining.
Alderwomen Donna Kuzemchak — who proposed the measure — and Katie Nash and Alderman Ben MacShane voted in favor.
Shackelford said after the vote that he abstained because he supported a rental licensing program but disagreed with some other parts of the legislation.
The city first workshopped the residential licensing proposal in 2018. Three more workshops were held in 2021 and 2022.