--- title: "La Plata, MD Property Management and Rental License" description: "La Plata, MD rental facts: the town rental license, HUD FY2027 rents for ZIP 20646, VanGO and MTA routes, Laurel Springs park, and our Waldorf office." url: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county/la-plata publisher: Real Property Management Gold phone: +1-301-392-2172 assessment: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us#assessment --- # La Plata Property Management La Plata, the Charles County seat, requires a town rental license (Code section 155-3), even though the county has none today. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom benchmark for ZIP 20646 is $1,960. VanGO runs six routes through La Plata, and MTA routes 630 and 650 leave from the La Plata park and ride. Charles CountyUpdated October 29, 20264 min read - **Town license required.** La Plata licenses rentals under Code section 155-3. Charles County has no county license today. - **County seat.** La Plata is the Charles County seat. UM Charles Regional Medical Center is at 5 Garrett Avenue. - **Six VanGO routes.** La Plata, 301 Connector, Bryans Road, Nanjemoy, Newburg and CSM Connector all serve the town. - **HUD benchmark.** ZIP 20646 has a FY2027 two-bedroom benchmark of $1,960. ![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 La Plata 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 $2,500/month Small Area Fair Market Rent for this ZIP, Charles County. HUD FY2027. Silver 8.9% $223 fee $2,278 to you Gold 10.9% $273 fee $2,228 to you Platinum 12.9% $323 fee $2,178 to you One-time tenant placement: **$2,070** (6.9% of a 1-year lease at this rent). [Get a real rent number, free](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us?zip=20646&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) ## Do I need a rental license in La Plata? Yes. The Town of La Plata requires a long-term rental license under La Plata Code section 155-3, according to the Maryland People’s Law Library table updated September 22, 2026. Charles County has no countywide license today, so the town rule is the one that applies in La Plata. The town keeps its own rental license page, and the [rental license](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rental-license) entry explains the term. The library also notes that if a local government requires a license and a landlord does not have one, the landlord cannot bring a failure to pay rent action in District Court. Get the license before a tenant moves in. Our [Southern Maryland rental license guide](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/southern-maryland-rental-license) compares the rules by county, and the [Maryland landlord and tenant law page](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/maryland-landlord-tenant-law) covers the wider rules. Charles County has proposed a countywide program for July 1, 2027. It is not law, and the county says its dates remain subject to final adoption. ## What does HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent say about La Plata? HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent is a federal benchmark used for voucher programs. It is not a prediction of what a specific home will rent for. ZIP 20646 has this Small Area Fair Market Rent: Unit size ZIP 20646 benchmark Efficiency $1,700 1 bedroom $1,770 2 bedrooms $1,960 3 bedrooms $2,500 4 bedrooms $2,940 Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs, retrieved October 29, 2026. The two-bedroom figure is $630 below the ZIP 20601 benchmark in Waldorf. A [housing choice voucher](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/housing-choice-voucher) payment standard starts from these numbers. For a number based on your own home, [request a free rental assessment](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us). ## Which buses serve La Plata? La Plata is a transfer point for several VanGO routes: - The La Plata route, along Route 301, serving residential communities, shopping centers, Charles Regional Medical Center, the Department of Social Services and the Charles County Government building. - The 301 Connector, between Waldorf and La Plata, serving the Health Department and the College of Southern Maryland. - The Bryans Road route, between La Plata and Bryans Road. - The Nanjemoy and Newburg routes, which start in La Plata. - The CSM Connector, linking the La Plata transfer point with the College of Southern Maryland’s La Plata and Hughesville campuses and the Charlotte Hall transfer point. Maryland MTA commuter route 630 lists a La Plata park and ride and runs toward Washington, DC. Route 650 runs La Plata to Waldorf and Accokeek. ## What is in and around La Plata? La Plata is the Charles County seat. UM Charles Regional Medical Center is at 5 Garrett Avenue, and it is the closest of the six hospitals we checked in the area. Laurel Springs Regional Park is at 5940 Radio Station Road and has baseball, soccer and softball fields, a pavilion, a playground and a trail. Using the Census Bureau’s 2024 place points, La Plata is about 5 miles in a straight line from Waldorf, where our Charles and PG County office is. This is not a drive time. ## What should an owner check before listing a home in La Plata? 1. Apply for the Town of La Plata rental license under Code section 155-3 before a tenant moves in. The town keeps its own application page. 2. Look up ZIP 20646. The two-bedroom benchmark is $1,960, which is $630 below the Waldorf ZIP 20601 figure. 3. Plan the utilities. SMECO provides electric service to all of Charles County. 4. Note the transit at the address. The La Plata VanGO route runs along Route 301, and MTA route 630 lists a La Plata park and ride. 5. Ask for a free assessment, so the rent you set comes from your own home. The [owner portal](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/owner-portal) entry explains how online statements work for owners. ## How does Real Property Management Gold work in La Plata? Our Waldorf office, at 2255 Crain Hwy Ste 102, Waldorf, MD 20601, manages La Plata rentals. Real Property Management Gold handles marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance, and financial reporting. Our tenant placement fee is 6.9% of the 1-year lease total, charged once after move-in. The [property management fees](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/property-management-fees) page lists the three management plans. 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. See [property management services](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/property-management-services) for what we cover. La Plata is in [Charles County](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county). Nearby town pages are [Waldorf](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county/waldorf) and [Indian Head](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county/indian-head). ## Next step Request a free assessment at [Contact us](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us) or call (301) 392-2172. 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 La Plata require a rental license? Yes. The Maryland People's Law Library lists a long-term rental license requirement for the town of La Plata under La Plata Code section 155-3, as of September 22, 2026. Charles County itself has no countywide license today. Check the Town of La Plata rental license page before you list a home. ### What is the HUD Fair Market Rent in La Plata, MD? HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 20646 is $1,700 for an efficiency, $1,770 for one bedroom, $1,960 for two, $2,500 for three and $2,940 for four. It is a federal benchmark for voucher programs, not a prediction of what a specific home will rent for. ### What happens if I rent without the La Plata license? The People's Law Library says that if a local government requires a license and a landlord does not have one, the landlord cannot bring a failure to pay rent action in District Court. That is a strong reason to get the town license before a tenant moves in. ### Which buses serve La Plata? VanGO runs the La Plata route, 301 Connector, Bryans Road, Nanjemoy, Newburg and CSM Connector routes through town. Maryland MTA commuter routes 630 and 650 list stops at the La Plata park and ride and run 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) - [Owner portal](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/owner-portal) - [Market rent](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/market-rent) ## Sources 1. [Maryland People's Law Library: Rental License Requirements](https://www.peoples-law.org/rental-license-maryland-county-city-municipality-town-search) 2. [Maryland People's Law Library: failure to pay rent and licenses](https://www.peoples-law.org/rental-license-maryland-county-city-municipality-town-search) 3. [Maryland Manual On-Line: Charles County](https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/ch/html/ch.html) 4. [HUD User: FY2027 Small Area FMR for ZIP 20646](https://www.huduser.gov/datasets/fmr/fmr2027/zip-calc?year=2027&zip=20646&cbsasub=METRO47900M47900) 5. [Charles County Government: VanGO Schedules and Maps](https://www.charlescountymd.gov/services/transportation/vango-public-transportation/vango-schedules-and-maps-2493) 6. [Charles County Government: VanGO Schedules and Maps (CSM Connector)](https://www.charlescountymd.gov/services/transportation/vango-public-transportation/vango-schedules-and-maps-2493) 7. [Charles County Government: VanGO Schedules and Maps (Bryans Road)](https://www.charlescountymd.gov/services/transportation/vango-public-transportation/vango-schedules-and-maps-2493) 8. [Maryland MTA: Route 630](https://www.mta.maryland.gov/schedule/630) 9. [Maryland MTA: Route 630](https://www.mta.maryland.gov/schedule/630) 10. [Maryland MTA: Route 650](https://www.mta.maryland.gov/schedule/650) 11. [Charles County Government: Laurel Springs Regional Park](https://www.charlescountymd.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/40/) 12. [Charles County Government: Laurel Springs Regional Park](https://www.charlescountymd.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/40/) 13. [UM Charles Regional Medical Center: Location](https://www.umms.org/charles/locations/um-charles-regional-medical-center) 14. [UM Charles Regional Medical Center: Location](https://www.umms.org/charles/locations/um-charles-regional-medical-center) 15. [U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Gazetteer, places](https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip) 16. [U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Gazetteer, places](https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip) 17. [Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative: Service Area](https://www.smeco.coop/about/service-area/) Checked against the sources above on October 29, 2026. Laws, fees and programs change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [Indian Head Property ManagementThe Town of Indian Head requires a rental license, even though Charles County has no countywide license today. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom benchmark for ZIP 20640 is $2,190. Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Chapman State Park and the 13-mile Indian Head Rail Trail are all here. Our Waldorf office manages rentals.](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county/indian-head) - [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) - [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) ## 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)