Do Maryland short-term rentals need an annual fire safety inspection?
Quick answer
Yes, but the inspection programs come from your county. By July 1, 2028, each Maryland county and Baltimore City must require annual inspections of every short-term rental unit for the fire safety rules, unless it bans short-term rentals (Public Safety 9-1105). The host rules themselves, such as alarms, an extinguisher and posted exits, apply since October 1, 2026.
What does the law say? Key facts and official sources
| Item | What the law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Md. Code, Public Safety 9-1101 to 9-1106, added by 2026 Md. Laws ch. 9 (HB 1221); effective October 1, 2026 | Official source |
| Who | Units offered for short-term rental for less than 30 consecutive days (9-1102) | Official source |
| Inspection deadline | On or before July 1, 2028, each county and Baltimore City must require annual inspections of all short-term rental units for compliance with 9-1103 (9-1105(b)) | Official source |
| Inspection fee | A county or Baltimore City may set a fee to cover the inspection cost (9-1105(c)) | Official source |
| Third-party inspectors | Allowed if they meet State Fire Marshal rules and are certified by a nationally recognized fire safety organization (9-1105(d)) | Official source |
| Proof | A passed inspection gets a certificate, receipt or other documentation; booking platforms must require hosts to give them that confirmation for each unit (9-1104, 9-1105(e)) | Official source |
| Fine | The subtitle sets no dollar fine; counties may add their own short-term rental rules (9-1106) | Official source |
| Last verified | October 22, 2026 | Astor Ventures |
What does the inspector check?
Compliance with Public Safety 9-1103: a posted evacuation diagram showing all exits, a posted list of emergency numbers for police and fire rescue, a working fire extinguisher, and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed under fire codes. Multiple smoke alarms must be interconnected, and alarms must be replaced if they stop working, are over 10 years old, or have no production date.
When will my county start inspecting?
The state deadline is July 1, 2028. Counties may act sooner, and some already have short-term rental rules. Each county must report its inspection rules, the number of units inspected and how many comply to the State Fire Marshal by July 1, 2028. Check with your county licensing or fire office.
What do booking platforms ask for?
Section 9-1104 requires booking platforms to tell hosts about the fire safety rules and to require each host to provide the confirmation documentation issued after inspection for each unit. The law does not say what platforms must do before a county has an inspection program, so keep your own dated proof of compliance in the meantime.
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?
Is there a state fine for skipping the inspection?
The subtitle sets no dollar fine. Consequences come from county rules and from booking platforms that require proof.
Can the county charge for the inspection?
Yes. Section 9-1105(c) lets a county or Baltimore City set a fee to cover the cost.
Does this apply if my county bans short-term rentals?
The inspection duty in 9-1105 does not apply to a county that prohibits short-term rentals.
Is this legal advice?
No. General information only.
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