Rental License Map

Maryland Counties Rental License

In Maryland, not all counties mandate a rental license for operation. We have compiled a list identifying which counties require this document and which do not.

Counties	Long-term License	Short term license
Allegany County	❌	❌
Anne Arundel County	✅	✅
Baltimore County	✅	✅
Calvert County	❌	❌
Caroline County	❌	❌
Carroll County	❌	❌
Cecil County	❌	❌
Charles County	❌	❌
Dorchester County	❌	❌
Frederick County	❌	❌
Garrett County	❌	✅
Harford County	❌	❌
Howard County	✅	❌
Kent County	❌	❌
Montgomery County	✅	✅
Prince George's County	✅	✅
Queen Anne's County	❌	❌
Somerset County	❌	❌
St. Mary's County	❌	❌
Talbot County	❌	✅
Washington County	❌	❌
Wicomico County	❌	❌
Worcester County	✅	✅

Licensing requirements for rental properties are usually there to ensure that the homes are safe and up to code. If a local government mandates that landlords have a license, and a landlord doesn’t have one, they can’t take tenants to District Court for not paying rent. Basically, having the right license is crucial not just for legal compliance, but also for protecting your ability to enforce rent collection through the courts. Without it, you might find yourself unable to pursue legal action if tenants aren’t paying up.