For decades, Baltimore City law has required most rental properties to have a rental dwelling license issued by the Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) to operate. The purpose of the license is to make sure rental housing meets basic health and safety standards and to give the City tools to enforce the law when properties are not properly maintained.
For many years, only multi-family dwellings and rooming houses needed a license. In 2018, the City expanded the law to include non-owner-occupied 1- and 2-family rental homes. Since January 1, 2019, a landlord who does not have a valid license loses the legal right to collect rent.
Beginning January 1, 2026, changes to the law under the Strengthening Renters’ Safety Act further increase inspections, transparency, and enforcement—especially for properties with repeated violations.
Read the law: Baltimore City Code, Article 13, Subtitle 4 and Subtitle 5
Topics on this page:
- Which rental properties are covered by the license law?
- What are the requirements to obtain a license?
- What does it mean for a property to be considered a “priority dwelling”?
- How can I find out if my landlord has a dwelling license?
- When does the law prohibit a landlord from collecting rent?
- How might the license law affect failure to pay rent cases?
- What are the penalties for violating the law?
Which rental dwellings are covered by the license law?
A rental dwelling license is required for:
- Multi-family dwellings
- Rooming houses
- Non-owner-occupied 1- and 2-family rental dwellings
The law does not apply to:
- Owner-occupied homes that are suited for 1 or 2 families
- Properties owned and operated by the Housing Authority of Baltimore City
Read the law: Baltimore City Code, Article 13 § 5-1(g); Article 13 § 5-4
What are the requirements to obtain a license?
A landlord may obtain a license from DHCD if the landlord:
- Registers every dwelling unit or room with the City
- Pays all required registration and licensing fees (including any late fees and interest)
- Passes a required inspection by a licensed third-party home inspector
- Complies with all federal, state, and City lead paint laws and regulations
- If the property includes a hotel or motel, complies with additional training, certification, and posting requirements
- Is not subject to a violation notice under the City’s Building, Fire, and Related Codes Article. A license cannot be issued or renewed if violations remain uncorrected for more than 90 days
Starting January 1, 2026:
- All rental licenses will have a standard two-year term
- Licenses will no longer transfer when a property is sold. A new owner must apply for a new rental license within 60 days of buying the property
Read the law: Baltimore City Code, Article 13 § 5-6
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What does it mean for a property to be considered a “priority dwelling”?
Beginning in 2026, DHCD must identify certain large buildings as “priority dwellings.” These are generally rental properties with 20 or more units that show ongoing safety or habitability problems. A property may be designated a priority dwelling if, during the prior year, it has had issues such as:
- Code violations that were not corrected for more than 90 days
- Multiple violation notices
- A high number of tenant 311 complaints related to health or safety
- Poor inspection results, including low HUD INSPIRE scores
Priority dwellings must receive at least two City-directed inspections each year. Owners or property managers may also be required to meet with DHCD to address compliance issues.
Read the Law: Baltimore City Code, Article 13, § 5-1(g)-(h)
How can I find out if my landlord has a dwelling license?
Landlords must make licensing information available to tenants and the public. Rental license numbers must be:
- Included in lease materials
- Posted in required locations
- Displayed in common areas and included in advertisements for covered rental properties
Failing to post required licensing information can result in civil citations, in addition to other enforcement actions.
By law, the Housing Commissioner must make publicly available the following:
- the license status of any rental dwelling; and
- records relating to that rental dwelling that show:
- violation notices, orders, or citations issued by the Department of Housing and Community Development; and
- notices of any denial, suspension, or revocation of the rental dwelling's license.
You can search the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development public records database to determine if a property in Baltimore City is currently licensed and registered as a rental property.
Read the Law: Baltimore City Code, Article 13, § 5-4(c), Article 13, § 5-22
When does the law prohibit a landlord from collecting rent?
Unless the property is exempt under the rental license law, a landlord may not:
- Rent or offer to rent a dwelling without a currently effective rental license, or
- Charge, accept, keep, or try to collect rent unless the landlord had a license both:
- When the unit was offered for rent, and
- When the tenant was living in the unit
This means that a landlord must have a valid license when leasing the unit and when demanding rent. If the landlord does not, the landlord loses the right to collect rent for that time period.
Read the law: Baltimore City Code, Article 13 § 5-4(a)
How might the license law affect failure to pay rent cases?
To win a Failure to Pay Rent case, a landlord must:
- Demonstrate that the property had a valid rental license, and
- Include the license number in the Failure to Pay Rent complaint
If a tenant suspects the landlord does not have a license, the tenant may request official certification from DHCD showing whether the property is currently licensed. Tenants may use the certification as evidence in court to show that the landlord did—or did not—have the right to collect rent.
Verification - Visit the DHCD website to verify whether a landlords has a license for their dwelling. For additional information, questions or concerns, contact the Property Registration and Licensing Office by phone 410-396-3575. The Property Registration and Licensing Office also offers certifications of licensing status and may receive reports of unlicensed or unlicensed properties.
Read the Law: Baltimore City Code, Article 13 § 5-4
What are the penalties for violating the law?
Violating the rental dwelling license law can result in:
- Environmental citations
- Civil enforcement actions
- Criminal charges
A person who violates the law may be guilty of a misdemeanor and face fines of up to $1,000 per offense.
DHCD has authority to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses, particularly for properties with repeated violations or those designated as priority dwellings.
Read the Law: Baltimore City Code, Article 13 § 5-25, Article 13 § 5-26