Register or Renew Your Rental Property

Six or fewer dwelling units:

• Owner-occupied, one or two tenants: $48 per unit
• Owner-occupied, three or more tenants: $60 per unit
• Not owner-occupied and short-term rentals: $60 per unit

Seven or more dwellings units:

• Self-certified: $100 per apartment complex
• Not self-certified: $100 per apartment complex plus $60 per unit inspected

All rental properties with six or fewer dwelling units must be inspected. Have an inspection performed by a state-licensed home inspector. The inspector must complete an Inspection Sheet for each unit you intend to rent.

If the inspector is licensed or accredited with the state to perform both lead and home inspections, they can perform both required inspections for properties built prior to 1978.

Apartment complexes and dwellings with seven or more dwelling units that cannot self-certify must submit Multifamily Inspection form for each unit inspected. 

Inspection Criteria

Inspectors look for the following:

• Smoke detectors
• Carbon monoxide alarms are installed in the common area outside of sleeping areas and on every level of the dwelling unit
• Electrical system has no apparent visual hazards
• All plumbing is functional with no apparent visual hazards
• All windows designed to be opened are operational
• All combustion appliances (furnace, hot water heater, dryer, etc.) are properly vented
• Secondary means of escape from sleeping areas exist with no exterior health or safety hazards

Inspection Cost

Baltimore County does not negotiate rates of individual inspectors. The inspector's charges are negotiated between the property owner and the inspector.

Section 8 and BRHP Rental Units

If your property is a Section 8 or BRHP rental unit, you do not have to do a separate licensing inspection. You must provide a copy of an inspection that was completed within the past 12 months as well as the Rental Housing License application and required fee.

You must provide the following with your application:

For six and fewer dwelling units

• Inspection Sheet completed by a licensed home inspector in Step 2 above 
• Lead inspection certificate if the home or dwelling unit was built before 1978
• A New Tenant Information form

For apartment complexes and dwellings with seven or more dwelling units

• A Self-Certification Affidavit must be completed, or if not eligible to self-certify, a Multifamily Inspection form must be completed with at least 10 percent of the units being inspected. For the units inspected, a lead inspection certificate must be provided if the dwelling unit was built before 1978.
• A Multifamily New Tenant Information form must be in your lease package.

You must comply with federal, State and County non-discrimination and accessibility regulations, as applicable. The regulations, exceptions and waiver conditions are described in the following pamphlets:

• Fair Housing Law
• Maryland Accessibility Act

Apply or Renew Online

Please be sure to check that your rental property complies with all the Baltimore County Zoning Regulations. To locate your Zoning Designation, visit My Neighborhood.

To apply for or renew your license online, you'll need:

• A valid email address
• A Visa or Mastercard to pay applicable fees
• All documentation from Step 3 above

You will be required to create an account and accept terms of use before beginning your application.

Apply or Renew by Mail or In Person

To apply or renew by mail or in person, you must:

For dwellings with six or fewer units

• Print and complete the Rental Housing application.
• Print and complete a payment coupon.
• Include all documentation from Step 3:
  • The Inspection Sheet completed by a licensed home inspector in Step 2 above
  • If the home was built before 1978, a lead inspection certificate

For apartment complexes and dwellings with seven or more dwelling units

• Print and complete the Multifamily Rental Registration Application
• Print and complete a Multifamily Rental Payment Coupon
• Include all documentation from Step 3, as applicable:
  • Self-certification affidavit
  • The Multifamily Inspection Sheet, completed by a licensed home inspector in Step 2 above

Then, return your application and supporting documentation to:

Rental Housing License Payments
Historic Courthouse, Room 150
400 Washington Avenue
Towson, Maryland 21204