--- title: "Charles County Property Management and Rental Rules" description: "Charles County rental license rules, HUD FY2027 rents by ZIP, SMECO power, VanGO and commuter buses, parks, and our Waldorf office. Free assessment." url: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county publisher: Real Property Management Gold phone: +1-301-392-2172 assessment: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us#assessment --- # Charles County Property Management Charles County has no countywide rental license today, but La Plata and Indian Head require one. A countywide program is proposed to start July 1, 2027, subject to final adoption. SMECO supplies power, VanGO runs 17 bus routes, and our Waldorf office manages rentals here. Request a free assessment for a real rent number. Areas we serveUpdated October 29, 20264 min read - **No county license yet.** La Plata and Indian Head license rentals today. A countywide program is proposed, not law. - **SMECO serves the county.** Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative provides electric service to all of Charles County. - **17 VanGO routes.** The county bus system links Waldorf, La Plata, Indian Head, Bryans Road and Charlotte Hall. - **Waldorf office.** Our Charles and PG County office is at 2255 Crain Hwy Ste 102, Waldorf, MD 20601. ![Map of Charles County among the counties served in Southern Maryland, with both offices](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/maps/charles-county.svg) Gold houses: our Lexington Park and Waldorf offices. US Census Bureau TIGERweb (counties, areal hydrography, US and state highways), retrieved 2026-10-29; town points from the Census 2024 Gazetteer; office points from the Census Geocoder. ## Rent benchmarks in Charles ZIP code2061020615, Broomes Island20629, Solomons20639, Huntingtown20657, Chesapeake Ranch Estates20676, St. Leonard20678, Prince Frederick20685, St. Leonard20688, Solomons20689, Chesapeake Beach20714, North Beach20732, Chesapeake Beach20736, Owings20754, Dunkirk20601, Waldorf20602, Waldorf20603, Bensville2061120612, Benedict20616, Bryans Road20617, Bryantown20622, Charlotte Hall20625, Cobb Island2063220637, Hughesville20640, Bryans Road2064520646, La Plata2065820661, Cobb Island2066220664, Rock Point20675, Pomfret20677, Port Tobacco Village2069320695, Waldorf20613, Brandywine20745, National Harbor20772, Upper Marlboro20606206092061820619, California20620, Callaway206212062420626206282063020634, California2063620650, Leonardtown20653, Lexington Park2065620659, Mechanicsville20660206672067020674, Piney Point2068020684206862068720690, Tall Timbers20692, Tall Timbers BedroomsStudioStudio11 bedroom22 bedrooms33 bedrooms44 bedrooms HUD benchmark rent $3,300/month Small Area Fair Market Rent for this ZIP, Charles County. HUD FY2027. Silver 8.9% $294 fee $3,006 to you Gold 10.9% $360 fee $2,940 to you Platinum 12.9% $426 fee $2,874 to you One-time tenant placement: **$2,732** (6.9% of a 1-year lease at this rent). [Get a real rent number, free](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us?zip=20601&beds=3#assessment) HUD Fair Market Rents are a federal benchmark for voucher programs, not an appraisal of your home. Fees from [our published pricing](https://www.realpmgold.com/property-management-fees). Data retrieved 2026-10-29. [How this works](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/rent-check) ## Does Charles County require a rental license? Not yet. As of October 2026, the Maryland People’s Law Library lists no countywide rental license in Charles County. Two towns do license rentals today: La Plata and Indian Head. See the [rental license](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rental-license) entry and our [Southern Maryland rental license guide](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/southern-maryland-rental-license) for how this works across counties. The county has proposed a countywide program. The county’s page says the proposal is under review by the County Commissioners and subject to a public hearing and final adoption. Its dates are listed below. Treat all of them as proposed, not law. Proposed step Date on the county page Public hearing October 20, 2026 Program begins July 1, 2027 Registration deadline December 31, 2027 Fee $107 annually, at least two inspections included If a license is required and you do not have one, a Maryland landlord cannot use the failure to pay rent process in District Court. Check the county and town pages before you list a home. Maryland’s wider landlord rules are on our [landlord and tenant law page](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/maryland-landlord-tenant-law). ## What does HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent say about Charles County? HUD publishes a Small Area Fair Market Rent for each ZIP in the Washington metro area, which includes Charles County. It is a federal benchmark used for voucher programs. It is not a prediction of what a specific home will rent for. A [housing choice voucher](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/housing-choice-voucher) payment standard is built from it. ZIP Area Efficiency 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR 4 BR 20601 Waldorf $2,240 $2,340 $2,590 $3,300 $3,890 20602 Waldorf $1,960 $2,040 $2,260 $2,880 $3,390 20603 Waldorf area $2,170 $2,270 $2,510 $3,200 $3,770 20646 La Plata $1,700 $1,770 $1,960 $2,500 $2,940 20640 Indian Head $1,900 $1,980 $2,190 $2,790 $3,290 20622 Charlotte Hall $1,500 $1,660 $1,820 $2,310 $2,790 Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs, retrieved October 29, 2026. Charlotte Hall’s ZIP also appears in the St. Mary’s County table, so check which area your address falls in. For a number based on your own home, [request a free rental assessment](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us). See [market rent](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/market-rent) for how the two differ. ## Which utilities serve Charles County? SMECO provides electric service to all of Charles County. Set up service with SMECO in the new tenant’s name before move-in. Water and sewer service depends on your address, so ask the county or the previous tenant which provider bills the home. Solomons Island. Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0. ## How do people get around Charles County without a car? VanGO runs 17 routes in the county, with connections to Calvert, St. Mary’s and Prince George’s counties. Examples from the county’s route list: - 301 Connector: Waldorf to La Plata, serving the Health Department and the College of Southern Maryland. - Indian Head route: Waldorf to Indian Head, connecting with the Bryans Road route. - Brandywine Connector: Waldorf to Brandywine Crossing, connecting with Prince George’s County transit. - Charlotte Hall route: Waldorf to Charlotte Hall, connecting with Calvert and St. Mary’s transit. Maryland MTA also runs commuter buses to Washington, DC: routes 610 and 620 from Waldorf, 630 and 650 from La Plata, 640 from Waldorf and Accokeek, and 705, 715 and 735 from Charlotte Hall and Waldorf. ## What parks and landmarks are in Charles County? - The Indian Head Rail Trail connects the Town of Indian Head to Route 301 in White Plains. - Gilbert Run Park, Laurel Springs Regional Park and Chapman State Park are covered on the town pages below. - Naval Support Facility Indian Head sits less than 30 miles south of Washington, DC, according to the Navy. The county seat is La Plata, where UM Charles Regional Medical Center is at 5 Garrett Avenue. Public schools are run by Charles County Public Schools. ## What should an owner check first in Charles County? Start with the town. Homes in La Plata and Indian Head need a town license. Everywhere else, check the county page for the proposed program, then look up your ZIP in the table above. The gap between $1,820 in Charlotte Hall and $2,590 in Waldorf shows why the ZIP matters. ## Where do we manage homes in Charles County? Our Waldorf office, listed as the Charles and PG County office, is at 2255 Crain Hwy Ste 102, Waldorf, MD 20601. Real Property Management Gold handles marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance, and financial reporting. We also manage homes in Bryans Road and White Plains, and in neighborhoods such as Pinefield and St. Charles. Read the town pages for more detail: - [Waldorf](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county/waldorf) - [La Plata](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county/la-plata) - [Indian Head](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county/indian-head) Our tenant placement fee is 6.9% of the 1-year lease total, charged once after move-in. Management plans run from 8.9% to 12.9% of monthly rent. See [property management fees](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/property-management-fees) for what each plan includes. If we don’t rent your property in 29 days or less, you do not pay a management fee for the first month. That promise is included in the Gold and Platinum plans. ## Next step Request a free assessment at [Contact us](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us) or call (301) 392-2172. See the other counties on [Areas we serve](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve). This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the linked official source or talk to a Maryland attorney. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Charles County require a rental license? Not yet. As of October 2026 the People's Law Library lists no countywide license, but the towns of La Plata and Indian Head require one. The county has proposed a program (Bill 2026-08) to begin July 1, 2027, and the county says dates remain subject to final adoption. Check the county page before you rent. ### How much would the proposed Charles County rental license cost? The county's program page says a rental license will cost $107 annually and that at least two inspections are included. The program is proposed and under review by the County Commissioners, so the fee and dates can change. Read the county page again before you plan around the number. ### Who provides electric service in Charles County? SMECO says it provides electric service to all of Charles and St. Mary's counties, all but the northern tip of Calvert County, and the southern portion of Prince George's County. Confirm your address with the utility when you set up service. ### What is the HUD Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Waldorf? HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in ZIP 20601 is $2,590. That is a federal benchmark for voucher programs, not a prediction of what your home will rent for. Request a free assessment for a number based on your home. ### Which buses serve Charles County? VanGO runs 17 routes in the county, with connections to Calvert, St. Mary's and Prince George's counties. Maryland MTA commuter routes 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 705, 715 and 735 run from Waldorf, La Plata and Charlotte Hall toward Washington, DC. ## Terms on this page - [Housing Choice Voucher](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/housing-choice-voucher) - [Failure to pay rent](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/failure-to-pay-rent) - [Management fee](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/management-fee) - [Rental license](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rental-license) - [Market rent](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/market-rent) ## Sources 1. [Charles County Government: Rental Licensing Program](https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/rental-licensing-program) 2. [Charles County Government: Rental Licensing Program (status)](https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/rental-licensing-program) 3. [Maryland People's Law Library: Rental License Requirements](https://www.peoples-law.org/rental-license-maryland-county-city-municipality-town-search) 4. [Maryland People's Law Library: Rental License Requirements](https://www.peoples-law.org/rental-license-maryland-county-city-municipality-town-search) 5. [Maryland People's Law Library: Rental License Requirements](https://www.peoples-law.org/rental-license-maryland-county-city-municipality-town-search) 6. [Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative: Service Area](https://www.smeco.coop/about/service-area/) 7. [Charles County Government: VanGO Schedules and Maps](https://www.charlescountymd.gov/services/transportation/vango-public-transportation/vango-schedules-and-maps-2493) 8. [Maryland MTA: Commuter Bus Schedules](https://www.mta.maryland.gov/schedule?type=commuter-bus) 9. [Maryland MTA: Commuter Bus Schedules](https://www.mta.maryland.gov/schedule?type=commuter-bus) 10. [Maryland MTA: Commuter Bus Schedules](https://www.mta.maryland.gov/schedule?type=commuter-bus) 11. [HUD User: FY2027 Small Area FMR for ZIP 20601](https://www.huduser.gov/datasets/fmr/fmr2027/zip-calc?year=2027&zip=20601&cbsasub=METRO47900M47900) 12. [HUD User: FY2027 Small Area FMR for ZIP 20646](https://www.huduser.gov/datasets/fmr/fmr2027/zip-calc?year=2027&zip=20646&cbsasub=METRO47900M47900) 13. [Charles County Parks: Park Trails](https://www.charlescountyparks.com/parks/trails) 14. [UM Charles Regional Medical Center: Location](https://www.umms.org/charles/locations/um-charles-regional-medical-center) 15. [UM Charles Regional Medical Center: Location](https://www.umms.org/charles/locations/um-charles-regional-medical-center) 16. [Maryland Manual On-Line: Charles County](https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/ch/html/ch.html) 17. [Navy CNIC: Naval Support Facility Indian Head](https://ndw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NSA-South-Potomac/Installations/NSF-Indian-Head/) 18. [Charles County Public Schools](https://www.ccboe.com/) Checked against the sources above on October 29, 2026. Laws, fees and programs change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [Calvert County Property ManagementCalvert County has no county rental license, but the towns of Chesapeake Beach and North Beach license rentals separately, per the People's Law Library as of October 2026. SMECO serves all but the northern tip of the county. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for each ZIP. Our Lexington Park office manages Calvert rentals.](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/calvert-county) - [Southern Prince George's County Property ManagementPrince George's County requires a license for single-family rentals. It is a 2-year license, and a temporary license runs 30 to 90 days until inspection. Eighteen municipalities license separately. HUD publishes FY2027 Fair Market Rents by ZIP for Brandywine, Upper Marlboro and National Harbor. Our Waldorf office manages homes here.](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/southern-prince-georges-county) - [Waldorf Property ManagementWaldorf, MD uses four ZIP codes in HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent table, with two-bedroom benchmarks from $2,260 to $2,590. VanGO runs more than ten routes here, and MTA commuter buses 610, 620, 630, 640 and 705 to 735 leave from Waldorf. Our Charles and PG County office is at 2255 Crain Hwy Ste 102.](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county/waldorf) ## Ask what your home could rent for. Free. A free rental assessment from our offices in Lexington Park and Waldorf. No cost, no contract, no pressure. [Request a free assessment](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us#assessment)[(301) 392-2172](tel:+13013922172)