Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Howard County, MD

Airbnb listings are allowed in Howard County, MD, but with restrictions. Howard County requires a Rental Housing License for any dwelling unit not occupied solely by the owner or owner’s immediate family; short-term rentals therefore are permitted but must comply with county zoning (uses determined by zoning districts) and the Howard County Property Maintenance Code for Rental Housing and applicable building, fire, and safety codes. Homeowners association or condominium rules may also prohibit transient rentals. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Howard County requires a Rental Housing License for any dwelling unit not occupied solely by the owner or owner’s immediate family; short-term rentals therefore are permitted but must comply with county zoning (uses determined by zoning districts) and the Howard County Property Maintenance Code for Rental Housing and applicable building, fire, and safety codes. Homeowners association or condominium rules may also prohibit transient rentals.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Howard County. 1) Submit an online Rental Housing License application via Howard County’s licensing portal/Accela Citizens Access or the Maryland OneStop application link and provide property and owner/agent information; 2) The Department Director (DILP) will inspect the dwelling for compliance with the Howard County Property Maintenance Code for Rental Housing and applicable codes; pay the application fee as stated ($20.00–$93.50 on the OneStop listing) and provide required documentation; 3) If the unit meets code, the Director issues the rental license; licenses may be renewed (OneStop states renewal after two years) and the Director may re-inspect as needed.

1) Submit an online Rental Housing License application via Howard County’s licensing portal/Accela Citizens Access or the Maryland OneStop application link and provide property and owner/agent information; 2) The Department Director (DILP) will inspect the dwelling for compliance with the Howard County Property Maintenance Code for Rental Housing and applicable codes; pay the application fee as stated ($20.00–$93.50 on the OneStop listing) and provide required documentation; 3) If the unit meets code, the Director issues the rental license; licenses may be renewed (OneStop states renewal after two years) and the Director may re-inspect as needed.

Vrbo is permitted in Howard County, MD under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Howard County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Howard County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.