If you own residential property you plan to rent out in Howard County, Maryland, you need a Howard County rental license from the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP) before a tenant moves in.1International Code Council. 2024 The Adopted Property Maintenance Code For Rental Housing of Howard County – 101.5 Licensing The license costs between $20 and $93.50 depending on property type, runs on a two-year cycle, and requires an inspection confirming the unit meets local safety codes.2Maryland OneStop. Rental Housing License Renting without one is a misdemeanor, and Maryland courts have questioned whether unlicensed landlords can even collect rent for that period.
Who Needs a License
The rule is broad. Howard County Code Section 14.901 requires the owner of any dwelling unit to hold a rental housing license before a tenant occupies the property.3Howard County eLaws. Howard County Code 17.1006 – Rental Housing License Required Single-family homes, townhouses, condos, and multi-family apartment units all qualify. Short-term rentals of fewer than 30 consecutive days need the same license, and may also face zoning restrictions depending on the district.
Three categories are exempt. You do not need a license if you live in the home yourself, if members of your immediate family occupy it, or if you live there and have no more than one roomer or boarder.4Howard County Government. County Council of Howard County – Property Maintenance Code Amendments Add a second roomer or boarder to your own home and the exemption drops away. HOA or condo rules may impose further restrictions on top of the county requirement.
What the Application Asks For
DILP collects detailed information about the property and its ownership. You’ll need to supply:2Maryland OneStop. Rental Housing License
- Unit number, street address, zip code, and complex name if any.
- Names and addresses of all owners of record and the managing operator. If the owner is a corporation, include the resident agent’s name and address.
- An authorized agent: an adult who lives in Maryland and is regularly present at a Maryland business office, designated to accept legal notices and court papers for you. You can name yourself if you qualify.
- Building specifics: property type, number of units and stories, construction date and type, smoke detector type, heating and water heating systems, water source, and sewage disposal.
- If the property is in an HOA or common-ownership community, confirmation that association fees are no more than 30 days past due.
The authorized agent requirement catches out-of-state investors. The county needs a local contact who can be served legal papers in person, so an out-of-state address alone won’t do.
Pre-1978 Properties: Lead Paint Rules
If your rental was built before 1978, Maryland adds a separate layer through the Department of the Environment (MDE). The property must be registered with MDE under an owner-specific tracking number, and the registration must be renewed. Effective January 1, 2026, the registration fee rises from $30 to $75 and covers two years instead of one.5Maryland Department of the Environment. Rental Property Owner Requirements
Every pre-1978 rental also has to be inspected by an MDE-accredited lead paint inspector at each change in occupancy. The property must pass a test for lead-contaminated dust and be free of defective paint on interior and exterior surfaces before a new tenant moves in.5Maryland Department of the Environment. Rental Property Owner Requirements You also have to give tenants educational materials at the start of every tenancy and every two years after, including the current lead inspection certificate and the state’s “Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home” brochure. Qualified inspectors book out, so schedule well before your expected move-in date.
Fees and Submission
Applications go through the Howard County Citizen Access Portal online, with document upload and electronic signature. Paper applications can be mailed to DILP at 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043.2Maryland OneStop. Rental Housing License
License fees run from $20 to $93.50 by property type.2Maryland OneStop. Rental Housing License Multi-family properties pay per unit. Check the DILP website for the current fee schedule before you submit, since the County Council can adjust the amounts. Howard County also charges a separate per-unit fee that funds tenant legal and educational services. For units with restricted rental rates designed to preserve long-term affordability, that fee is cut to half the standard amount.6Maryland General Assembly. Howard County – Fee for Rental Housing Services – Fiscal and Policy Note Payment is by credit card or check, and the system generates a tracking number so you can follow progress online.
What the Inspector Checks
After DILP reviews your paperwork, the director or a designated representative inspects the property for compliance with the Howard County Property Maintenance Code for Rental Housing.2Maryland OneStop. Rental Housing License This is where most delays happen. If the unit fails, you fix the violations and schedule a re-inspection before the license can issue.
Smoke Alarms
Alarms must be installed on every level of the home, inside each bedroom, and in the hallway immediately outside the bedrooms. Any alarm more than 10 years past its date of manufacture must be replaced. Battery-only alarms must be the sealed, 10-year lithium type with a non-removable battery. Hardwired alarms must always be replaced with new hardwired alarms; you cannot downgrade to battery-only.7Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal. New Smoke Alarm Law Explanation Flip each alarm over and check the manufacture date on the back before the inspector does.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
If the property has any fuel-burning equipment (gas furnace, gas water heater, gas stove), a wood-burning appliance, or an attached garage, carbon monoxide alarms are required outside each sleeping area and on every level, including the basement. These can be hardwired with battery backup or battery-powered with a sealed 10-year battery.
Other Common Failure Points
- Every door providing access to the unit needs a deadbolt with at least a 1-inch throw that opens from inside without a key. Double-keyed deadbolts must be replaced.
- Any stairway with four or more risers, inside or outside, needs a firmly secured handrail. Metal handrails cannot have rust or peeling paint.
- The property’s address must be posted so it is clearly visible from the street.
Smoke alarms and deadbolts account for a disproportionate share of failed first inspections. The full code also covers structural integrity, plumbing, electrical, and general habitability.
Renewal
A Howard County rental housing license is valid for two years.6Maryland General Assembly. Howard County – Fee for Rental Housing Services – Fiscal and Policy Note The county sends a renewal reminder before expiration. The renewal inspection is typically limited to an exterior drive-by confirming the outside of the property is maintained, a much lighter touch than the initial inspection. You pay the license fee again for each two-year cycle.
DILP can suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license if the director finds you violated the property maintenance code or misrepresented information on the application.4Howard County Government. County Council of Howard County – Property Maintenance Code Amendments A revocation sends you through the full application and inspection process again before you can legally rent.
Penalties for Renting Without a License
Operating an unlicensed rental in Howard County is a misdemeanor. A conviction carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense, so fines accumulate quickly.8International Code Council. 2024 The Adopted Property Maintenance Code For Rental Housing of Howard County – 107.3 Enforcement and Penalties DILP can also pursue civil penalties under Howard County Code Title 24 as an alternative or in addition to criminal charges, classified as a Class B offense.
The financial exposure runs deeper than county fines. In Assanah-Carroll v. Law Offices of Edward J. Maher, P.C., 480 Md. 394 (2022), the principle emerged that a landlord in a jurisdiction requiring a license may not collect rent attributable to an unlicensed period, and attempts to do so may violate the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act. The Supreme Court of Maryland later dismissed a related appeal in Wilson v. Tanglewood Venture, LP as moot without a final ruling on rent escrow obligations, but the underlying risk is real.9Maryland Courts. Gary Wilson v. Tanglewood Venture, LP A tenant who discovers the property is unlicensed could withhold rent, and your ability to pursue eviction for nonpayment during that period may be severely limited. Do not place a tenant in the unit without a valid license in hand.