(a) The owner of a dwelling unit must obtain a rental housing license before operating the dwelling unit as rental housing. If the owner is a corporation, the corporation must be qualified to do business in Maryland under state law. Each owner must certify to the Department the name, address and telephone number of an agent who resides in Maryland and is qualified to accept service of process on behalf of the owner.
(b) The Director must issue three classes of rental housing licenses. Class 1 is a multifamily rental housing license. Class 2 is a single-family rental housing license. Class 3 is a single-family accessory apartment license.
(c) A Class 1 rental housing license is required for each apartment complex and personal living quarters building, and for each multifamily dwelling unit operated as rental housing. A Class 2 rental housing license is required for each single-family dwelling unit operated as rental housing. A Class 3 license is required for each single-family residence with an accessory apartment that does not have a special exception approved before May 20, 2013. (1972 L.M.C., ch. 27, § 1; 1973 L.M.C., ch. 14, § 2; 1978 L.M.C., ch. 16, § 1; 1978 L.M.C., ch. 43, § 1; 1980 L.M.C., ch. 31, § 1; 1984 L.M.C., ch. 30, § 2; 1992 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1; 1996 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1; 1997 L.M.C., ch. 1, § 1; 2000 L.M.C., ch. 1; 2000 L.M.C., ch. 32, § 1; 2005 L.M.C., ch. 2, § 1; 2013 L.M.C., ch. 2, § 1.)
Editor's note—2005 L.M.C., ch. 2, § 1, amending 2000 L.M.C., ch. 1, which amended 1997 L.M.C., ch. 1, § 3, states: "Limit on licenses. The Department of Housing and Community Affairs, acting under Section 29-16(c), as amended by Section 2 of this Act [1997 LMC, ch. 1], must not:
(a) issue a rental housing license for more than six personal living quarters buildings; or
(b) issue a rental housing license for more than one personal living quarters building in any policy area designated in the County Growth Policy.
The Department must issue an annual report not later than February 1 each year which must describe each personal living quarters building licensed during the previous year and may contain any other information about personal living quarters buildings that would assist the Council and Executive in deciding whether to allow further licensing of personal living quarters buildings beyond that allowed under this Section."