Baltimore City Landlord Rules (2026): Property Registration, Rental License, Lead Certificates, Vacant Building Notices and Property Taxes

Baltimore City Code Article 13 requires every owner of a non-owner-occupied dwelling, whether it is rented, vacant or producing income, to file a registration statement with the Housing Commissioner. Registration is due within 10 days of any transfer of the property and every January 1 after that, and the registration fee must be paid each year for the property to count as registered. Each property needs its own registration. If you live in the home you own, this does not apply.

Every non-owner-occupied property in Baltimore City that is rented must also be licensed as a rental. According to Baltimore City DHCD, to get a license the property must:

• Complete the online property registration with the owner's current contact information.
• Submit a passing inspection report for each required unit from a Maryland-licensed home inspector who is registered with Baltimore City DHCD, or a passing Section 8 inspection report. For new registrations, inspection reports must be submitted within 90 days of the inspection, and Section 8 reports may not be older than one year.
• Submit current lead certification information for each unit.
• Pay all registration fees due.
• Have no open code violations.

• Took effect January 1, 2026.
• Rental licenses now have a flat two-year term.
• Licenses can no longer be transferred. A buyer of a rental property must get a new rental license within 60 days of the transfer.
• Larger buildings with repeated violations can be designated priority dwellings and face priority inspections and possible license denial, suspension or revocation.
• Owners of high-violation properties must post their rental license number in common areas, leases and advertisements; failure to post can bring a $250 citation.

Maryland's lead law originally focused on rentals built before 1950 and now covers rentals built before 1978. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) says owners of rental homes built before 1978 must register them with the state, renew every year by December 31 (the fee is $30 per unit), and provide a valid lead inspection certificate at each tenant turnover, unless the property is certified lead-free. A change in ownership requires a new registration and tracking number, and ownership records must match state tax records.

Keep copies of your registration and lead certificates. MDE notes they may be needed for rent court and programs like Section 8, and failure to comply can bring fines and the loss of legal protections. Baltimore City requires the lead certificate tracking and certificate numbers for the rental license.

Federal law also requires a lead disclosure and the EPA lead pamphlet before a tenant signs a lease for most pre-1978 housing.

A Vacant Building Notice (VBN) is a violation notice placed on a property that is vacant, abandoned and uninhabitable. The city says the owner can be fined $1,000 for not removing it by rehabilitating the property and getting a use and occupancy permit. Since 2021, sellers must disclose a VBN in the contract of sale.

Before buying, especially a rehabbed home, check for a VBN on the city's CoDeMap and review the lien sheet the title company receives before settlement. Make sure the required building permits and the final use and occupancy permit were obtained.

• For the 2026-2027 tax year, SDAT lists Baltimore City's real property rate at $2.248 per $100 of assessed value, plus the state rate of $0.112, for a combined $2.36 per $100.
• SDAT reassesses each property every 3 years, and increases are phased in.
• The Homestead Tax Credit, which limits how fast the taxable assessment rises (4% a year in Baltimore City for fiscal 2027), applies only to the owner's principal residence, so a rental property does not get it.
• Look up a property's assessment and ownership on SDAT's Real Property search before you make an offer, and ask your title company about any ground rent, liens or unpaid city bills.

• Confirm whether the property is registered and licensed, and plan for a new license within 60 days of settlement.
• Ask for current MDE lead registration and certificates, and budget for inspection and paint work on older homes.
• Check CoDeMap for a VBN or open violations.
• Review existing leases, deposits and rent rolls.
• Model property taxes, insurance, licensing and repairs with our calculators.
• Confirm every requirement with Baltimore City DHCD and MDE, and talk to a Maryland attorney about leases and compliance.

This is general information, not legal advice. City and state requirements change, so confirm with Baltimore City DHCD, MDE and SDAT before you buy or rent out a property.