EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0705*
HOUSE BILL 705
N1 5lr1965
By: Delegate Valderrama
Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Real Property – Short–Term Rentals 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the governing body of a county or municipality from 3
enacting a local law or ordinance prohibiting the offering of certain residential 4
property as a short–term rental by an operator solely because the operator is a lessee 5
or sublessee of the property; and generally relating to short–term rental property. 6
BY adding to 7
Article – Real Property 8
Section 14–126.1 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Real Property 14
14–126.1. 15
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 16
INDICATED. 17
(2) “OPERATOR” MEANS THE PROPRIETOR OF AN Y DWELLING , 18
LODGING, OR SLEEPING ACCOMMOD ATIONS OFFERED AS A SHORT–TERM RENTAL , 19
WHETHER IN THE CAPAC ITY OF OWNER , LESSEE, SUBLESSEE, MORTGAGEE IN 20
POSSESSION, LICENSEE, OR ANY OTHER POSSESS ORY CAPACITY. 21
2 HOUSE BILL 705
(3) (I) “SHORT–TERM RENTAL ” MEANS A RESIDENTIAL DWELLI NG 1
UNIT OR A PORTION OF THE UNIT, INCLUDING AN ACCESSO RY DWELLING , USED TO 2
PROVIDE HOUSING FOR LESS THAN 31 CONSECUTIVE DAYS . 3
(II) “SHORT–TERM RENTAL ” DOES NOT INCLUDE A H OTEL OR 4
MOTEL, BOARDING HOUSE , GROUP RESIDENTIAL FA CILITY FOR STUDENTS , 5
FRATERNITY OR SORORI TY HOUSE, OR SIMILAR HOUSING . 6
(B) THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPA LITY MAY NOT ENACT 7
A LOCAL LAW OR ORDIN ANCE PROHIBITING AN OPERATOR FROM OFF ERING A 8
PROPERTY AS A SHORT–TERM RENTAL SOLELY BECAUSE THE OPERATOR IS A 9
LESSEE OR SUBLESSEE OF THE PROPERTY . 10
(C) NOTHING IN THIS SECTI ON MAY BE INTERPRETE D AS PROHIBITING A 11
PROPERTY OWNER FROM PROHIBITING OR LIMITING THE USE OF THE PROPE RTY BY 12
A LESSEE OR SUBLESSEE AS A SHORT–TERM RENTAL. 13
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 14
October 1, 2025. 15