Local guide

Annapolis Short-Term Rental Laws

Annapolis, Maryland STR compliance: An Annapolis STR needs a City license, a Maryland sales-and-use-tax license, the county occupancy-tax account, and a qualified local manager. Review property eligibility, Short-Term Rental License, Maryland sales tax on transient accommodations, and renewal actions from official sources.

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  • Address used only for local rules

Compliance layers

A Clear Answer, Then a Path Forward.

Critical Finding

See whether the property can operate now, what blocks it, and which exception may apply.

Address Context

Confirm zoning, current land use, jurisdiction, and the rules that actually govern the address.

Required Approvals

Get the permits, licenses, documents, inspections, and tax registrations needed before launch.

Recommended Path

Follow prioritized next steps, deadlines, renewal duties, and viable alternatives when rules change.

Decision rule

Annapolis: resolve “Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person” before relying on the Short-Term Rental License

An Annapolis STR needs a City license, a Maryland sales-and-use-tax license, the county occupancy-tax account, and a qualified local manager.

Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person. This is the first property-level screen for the Annapolis filing.

Renew the City license annually and refresh manager and tax records when they change. Treat renewal status as part of continued eligibility, not an administrative afterthought.

  • Short-Term Rental License

    An Annapolis STR needs a City license, a Maryland sales-and-use-tax license, the county occupancy-tax account, and a qualified local manager.

    Warning

Local facts that distinguish Annapolis

Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person. Only after that result can this address move from research to an active Short-Term Rental License.

Legal posture
An Annapolis STR needs a City license, a Maryland sales-and-use-tax license, the county occupancy-tax account, and a qualified local manager.
Local approval
Short-Term Rental License
Eligibility boundary
Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person.
Property or operator condition
Obtain the Maryland sales-and-use-tax license before completing the City file.
Approval prerequisite
Maintain the Anne Arundel County occupancy-tax account separately.
Published government charge
The City publishes a $400 STR license fee; recheck the fee page before payment.
Continuing duty
Renew the City license annually and refresh manager and tax records when they change.

Test the Annapolis address against its local rules

Apply “Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person” to the actual parcel and rental model before opening the Annapolis government case.

  • Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person

    Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person. Retain the official Annapolis result that proves this condition; a contrary result stops the Short-Term Rental License path.

    Required
  • Obtain the Maryland sales-and-use-tax license before completing the City file

    Obtain the Maryland sales-and-use-tax license before completing the City file. Retain the official Annapolis result that proves this condition; a contrary result stops the Short-Term Rental License path.

    Required
  • Maintain the Anne Arundel County occupancy-tax account separately

    Maintain the Anne Arundel County occupancy-tax account separately. Retain the official Annapolis result that proves this condition; a contrary result stops the Short-Term Rental License path.

    Required

Move the Annapolis decision “Obtain the Maryland sales-and-use-tax license before completing the City file” into an active Short-Term Rental License

Start with “Obtain the Maryland sales-and-use-tax license before completing the City file”; the resulting local record keeps the Annapolis land-use decision distinct from tax registration and renewal.

  1. Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person

    Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person. The observable result is a property-specific record supporting this eligibility decision; otherwise correct the address or rental model before filing.

  2. Obtain the Maryland sales-and-use-tax license before completing the City file

    Obtain the Maryland sales-and-use-tax license before completing the City file. The observable result is a property-specific record supporting this classification decision; otherwise correct the address or rental model before filing.

  3. Maintain the Anne Arundel County occupancy-tax account separately

    Maintain the Anne Arundel County occupancy-tax account separately. The observable result is a property-specific record supporting this prerequisite decision; otherwise correct the address or rental model before filing.

  4. Submit after documenting “Maintain the Anne Arundel County occupancy-tax account separately”

    Use https://www.annapolis.gov/2349/Applying-for-a-Short-Term-Rental. Keep the Annapolis case identifier and agency response alongside the evidence for “Maintain the Anne Arundel County occupancy-tax account separately”; payment or submission alone is not proof that the Short-Term Rental License is active.

  5. Set up Maryland Maryland sales tax on transient accommodations

    Maryland treats charges for transient accommodations as a state sales-and-use-tax issue. Register and file through the Comptroller for bookings the operator must report.

  6. Preserve the Annapolis approval after issuance

    Renew the City license annually and refresh manager and tax records when they change.

Separate the Annapolis charge from Maryland tax

The City publishes a $400 STR license fee; recheck the fee page before payment.

Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person. The resulting Annapolis approval and the Maryland sales tax on transient accommodations record solve different compliance problems; neither substitutes for the other.

  • Annapolis charge

    The City publishes a $400 STR license fee; recheck the fee page before payment.

  • Maryland sales tax on transient accommodations

    Maryland treats charges for transient accommodations as a state sales-and-use-tax issue.

  • Marketplace and direct bookings

    Local hotel or occupancy taxes remain a separate county or municipal layer.

  • State filing control

    Register and file through the Comptroller for bookings the operator must report.

Keep the Annapolis approval aligned with the licensed property

Renew the City license annually and refresh manager and tax records when they change.

  • Retain the active Short-Term Rental License

    Match the issued record to Annapolis, the property address, and the approved rental class while continuing to satisfy “Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person”.

    Required
  • Continue to satisfy: Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person

    Recheck this Annapolis condition together with the continuing duty “Renew the City license annually and refresh manager and tax records when they change” before changing ownership, occupancy, unit configuration, or the listing model.

    Required
  • Continue to satisfy: Obtain the Maryland sales-and-use-tax license before completing the City file

    Recheck this Annapolis condition together with the continuing duty “Renew the City license annually and refresh manager and tax records when they change” before changing ownership, occupancy, unit configuration, or the listing model.

    Required
  • Maintain Maryland records

    Local hotel or occupancy taxes remain a separate county or municipal layer. Register and file through the Comptroller for bookings the operator must report.

    Required

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Short-Term Rental License. An Annapolis STR needs a City license, a Maryland sales-and-use-tax license, the county occupancy-tax account, and a qualified local manager.

Identify a City-resident or otherwise qualifying local responsible person.

Obtain the Maryland sales-and-use-tax license before completing the City file. Maintain the Anne Arundel County occupancy-tax account separately.

Maryland sales tax on transient accommodations. Maryland treats charges for transient accommodations as a state sales-and-use-tax issue.

Renew the City license annually and refresh manager and tax records when they change.