Registration fees
Registration fees for rentals of six or fewer units range from $48 to $60 per unit depending on occupancy, with a $100 base fee for properties of seven or more units.
Source: Baltimore County PAI(opens in a new tab)
Baltimore County, MD.
Baltimore County is a separate Maryland jurisdiction that surrounds, but does not include, Baltimore City, with its own rental registration system apart from the city's. RS Managed manages rentals here from its Bethesda office, for 8% of monthly rent.
- Maryland
- Rental license: required
Photo: Towson, MD, Taylor Cole / Unsplash
Who licenses rentals.
Baltimore County is a separate Maryland county that surrounds, but does not include, Baltimore City. Rental registration and inspection are administered by the county's Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI).
Rental license for a home or condo
Required.
Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI)
Any rental property must be registered and licensed with PAI before a tenant moves in. Properties with six or fewer units must pass inspection by a state-licensed home inspector within the prior 12 months.
Source: Baltimore County PAI(opens in a new tab)Local rules.
What an owner renting in Baltimore County has to know, each linked to the official page.
Required inspection items
The state-licensed inspector checks smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, electrical and plumbing hazards, window operability, venting, and a secondary escape route from sleeping areas.
Source: Baltimore County PAI(opens in a new tab)Exemption pathway
Some small rentals can file a Rental Property Exemption instead of full registration, but must still submit a New Tenant Notification Form and, for pre-1978 properties, a lead inspection certificate.
Source: Baltimore County PAI(opens in a new tab)State law.
Rules that apply across Maryland, not only in Baltimore County.
Security deposit maximum
A landlord may not charge a security deposit of more than one month's rent per unit, except up to two months if a tenant pays utilities directly under a written utility-assistance agreement.
Source: Maryland Code, Real Property §8-203(opens in a new tab)Security deposit return deadline
Maryland law requires a landlord to return a tenant's security deposit within 45 days after the tenancy ends, minus any rightfully withheld damages.
Source: Maryland Code, Real Property §8-203(opens in a new tab)Security deposit interest
Deposits of $50 or more held at least six months accrue interest monthly at 1.5 percent a year or the one-year Treasury yield, whichever is greater.
Source: Maryland Code, Real Property §8-203(opens in a new tab)Lead-paint rental registration
Rental units built before 1978 must register with the Maryland Department of the Environment's lead poisoning prevention program before being rented.
Source: Maryland Department of the Environment(opens in a new tab)Services in Baltimore County.
All six, from one local team.
- Full-Service Property Management8% of monthly rent. That's the whole fee — no admin line, no setup cost.
- Leasing & Tenant PlacementMarketing, showings, and uniform written screening criteria applied to every applicant. Under 14 days to fill.
- Rent Collection & DisbursementOn-time rent collection and owner disbursement, with a 100% on-time record across the portfolio.
- Maintenance Coordination24-hour maintenance response, vendor coordination, and routine inspections on every property.
- Licensing & ComplianceRental licensing, inspections, and lease renewals handled for you. Licensed in MD, DC, and VA.
- Owner Reporting & Performance TrackingYear-end records plus appreciation, principal paydown, and NOI tracked on every property we manage.
Renting in Baltimore County? Get a proposal.
Full-service management across Maryland, DC, and Virginia. 8% of monthly rent — that's the whole fee.