Part 1 – Definitions; General Provisions
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 15, § 48-1 (2026)
§ 48-1 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(b)Booking transaction.
“Booking transaction” means a reservation transaction between a host and a prospective transient guest for a short-term residential rental.
(c)Dwelling unit.
“Dwelling unit” has the meaning stated in § 202.2 of the Baltimore City <cite data-path="|building-codes|II">Building Code</cite>.
(d)Host.
“Host” means the owner of a dwelling unit who provides or offers to provide all or part of the dwelling unit for short-term residential rental use in exchange for a fee.
(e)Hosting platform.
“Hosting platform” means an internet-based entity that, in exchange for a fee:
(1)
facilitates reservations of short-term residential rentals;
(2)
serves as a conduit of communication between hosts and transient guests; or
(3)
otherwise facilitates booking transactions for short-term residential rentals.
(f)Housing Commissioner; Commissioner.
“Housing Commissioner” or “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development or the Commissioner’s designee.
(g)Permanent residence.
(1)
“Permanent residence” means a dwelling unit:
(i)
in which the owner resides for an aggregate of at least 180 days annually; and
(ii)
that is the owner’s usual place of return for housing, as documented by at least one of the following:
(A)
driver’s license;
(B)
voter registration; or
(C)
official designation of the dwelling unit as the owner’s principle residence in accordance with the criteria governing the State Homestead Tax Credit.
(2)
For purposes of this subtitle, a host may have only 1 “permanent residence”.
(h)Short-term residential rental.
“Short-term residential rental” means the use, facilitated in whole or in part by a hosting platform, of all or any part of a dwelling unit to provide accommodations to transient guests for sleeping or lodging purposes in exchange for a fee.
(i)Transient guest.
(1)Ancillary definition of “transient”.
In this subsection, “transient” means any person who occupies, or has been given the right to occupy, sleeping or lodging accommodations for a period of fewer than 90 consecutive days.
(2)“Transient guest” defined.
“Transient guest” means any transient who uses a hosting platform to facilitate a short-term residential rental.
History: Ord. 19-217
Balt., Md., Code art. 15, § 48-2 (2026)
§ 48-2LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Balt., Md., Code art. 15, § 48-3 (2026)
§ 48-3 Rules and Regulations.LinkCopy Citation
Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, the Housing Commissioner must adopt rules and regulations to carry out this subtitle.
History: Ord. 19-217
History: Text Conformed 03/01/21
Balt., Md., Code art. 15, § 48-4 to 48-5 (2026)
§§ 48-4 to 48-5LinkCopy Citation
Reserved