What do booking sites have to ask Maryland short-term rental hosts for?
Quick answer
Two things. A booking service must electronically tell every host who uses it about Maryland's short-term rental fire safety rules, and it must require each host to provide the confirmation documentation they receive after a fire safety inspection, for each unit (Md. Code, Public Safety 9-1104). Sites that only list or advertise rentals, without taking bookings or payment and charging a fee, are not booking services.
What does the law say? Key facts and official sources
| Item | What the law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Booking service | Runs an online or app platform used to list or advertise short-term rentals and to accept offers or allow reservation or payment, and charges or receives a fee for it (9-1101(b)(1)) | Official source |
| Not covered | A platform that solely lists or advertises short-term rental offers (9-1101(b)(2)) | Official source |
| Duty 1 | Electronically notify all hosts that use the service of the fire safety requirements of the subtitle (9-1104(1)) | Official source |
| Duty 2 | Require each host to provide the confirmation documentation provided under 9-1105 for each unit the host owns (9-1104(2)) | Official source |
| What the documentation is | The certificate, receipt or other documentation of compliance given to the host after a passed inspection (9-1105(e)) | Official source |
| Inspections | Each county and Baltimore City must require annual inspections of all short-term rental units by July 1, 2028 (9-1105(b)) | Official source |
| Effective | October 1, 2026 (2026 Md. Laws chs. 9 and 10) | Official source |
| Last verified | October 25, 2026 | Astor Ventures |
What should a host have ready?
The inspection certificate, receipt or other compliance document for each unit once your county inspects it. Until then, keep your own record of the host duties in 9-1103: the posted evacuation diagram and emergency numbers, the fire extinguisher, and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
What if my county has not started inspections yet?
The law ties the platform's request to documentation "provided to the short-term rental host under 9-1105", which comes from the county inspection program due by July 1, 2028. The statute does not say what a platform should accept before a county inspects. We quote it as written; check what your platform asks for.
Does the law name Airbnb or Vrbo?
No. It covers any "booking service" that meets the definition in 9-1101(b), whatever its name.
Want it done in an afternoon? The Maryland short-term rental fire safety kit turns these rules into fill-in templates, a checklist and a tracker, with the official sources quoted. One-time payment, instant download.
What else do people ask?
Does the law say platforms must verify or delist listings?
No. Section 9-1104 says notify hosts and require the documentation. It does not use the words verify or delist.
Is there a fine for platforms?
The subtitle has no penalty section. See our penalty guide.
Does this cover rentals of 30 days or more?
No. The subtitle applies only to units offered for less than 30 consecutive days (9-1102).
Is this legal advice?
No. General information only.
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