--- title: "Charles County Rental License Proposal: What Owners Should Know" description: "Charles County's proposed rental license would cost $107 a year and start July 1, 2027 if adopted. See the dates, inspections and steps owners can take now." url: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/charles-county-rental-license-proposal publisher: Real Property Management Gold phone: +1-301-392-2172 assessment: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us#assessment --- # Charles County Rental License Proposal: What Owners Should Know Charles County has proposed a rental licensing program. As of October 29, 2026, the county's page says it is under review and subject to final adoption. If adopted, it would begin July 1, 2027, cost $107 a year with at least two inspections included, and set a registration deadline of December 31, 2027. Maryland lawPublished October 19, 20264 min read ## Is the Charles County rental license in effect? No. As of October 29, 2026, it is a proposal. The county’s Rental Licensing Program page says it “is currently under review by the Charles County Commissioners and is subject to the legislative process, including a public hearing and final adoption.” The page lists a public hearing on October 20, 2026. It did not show a final vote when we read it. Treat every date below as a plan, not a rule. ## What dates and costs does the county list? The county lists these dates and says they “remain subject to final adoption of the legislation.” Item What the county page says Public hearing October 20, 2026 Program would begin July 1, 2027 Initial registration period July to December 2027 Registration deadline December 31, 2027 Annual license cost $107, with at least two inspections included Extra reinspections Additional fees may apply Standard rental inspections Every other year Short-term rental inspections Every year The county says inspections are meant to focus on health, safety, fire safety and basic property maintenance conditions. For owner-occupied rentals, it says inspections would be limited to rented rooms and shared areas. ## What steps would an owner follow? The county shows this path from application to renewal. 1. Application. 2. Registration fee. 3. Document review. 4. Registration accepted. 5. License fee. 6. Inspection. 7. Corrections, if needed. 8. License issuance. 9. Renewal. The county lists an email for questions, [RentalLicensing@CharlesCountyMD.gov](mailto:RentalLicensing@CharlesCountyMD.gov), and a phone line, 301.645.0692, extension 2639. Solomons Island. Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0. ## Who licenses rentals in Charles County today? The county does not license rentals countywide today. The Maryland People’s Law Library table, last updated September 22, 2026, lists two towns with a long-term license requirement: La Plata under Code 155-3 and Indian Head under Code 334-3. It lists no requirement for Port Tobacco. St. Mary’s and Calvert counties also show no county license on that table, though some Calvert towns license separately. Prince George’s County requires a license for single-family rentals. See the [Southern Maryland rental license guide](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/southern-maryland-rental-license) for all four counties. ## Why does a missing license matter? It can block a court filing. The People’s Law Library says a landlord must have a current license where the county or town requires one. If a license is required and missing, the landlord cannot use the summary ejectment procedure. That is the court process for unpaid rent, called [failure to pay rent](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/failure-to-pay-rent). Read the [Maryland eviction guide](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/southern-maryland-evictions) for the steps. ## What can an owner do now? You cannot apply yet. You can get ready. These steps are low cost and useful even if the plan changes. 1. Pull your lease, move-in photos and repair records into one folder. 2. Walk the home and note anything an inspector looks for: smoke alarms, handrails, working locks and visible damage. 3. Fix small items now. The [rent ready](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rent-ready) entry lists what we mean by a home ready for a tenant. 4. Read the [rental license](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rental-license) entry so you know the terms. 5. Watch the county page for the final vote and new dates. 6. Ask your property manager how they will handle the paperwork if the program passes. The [Maryland landlord-tenant law guide](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/maryland-landlord-tenant-law) covers other state rules, such as the one-month security deposit cap. Our [Charles County page](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/areas-we-serve/charles-county) lists the towns we serve there. ## What do we still not know? The county page is clear about its plan, but several questions remain open as of October 29, 2026. 1. Whether the Commissioners adopt the bill, and in what form. 2. Whether the dates and the $107 fee change before a vote. 3. How the county will count units in a building with several rentals. 4. How inspection scheduling will work for tenants and owners. Do not plan your budget around a number that is not law yet. Treat $107 as the county’s current proposal. ## How does it compare with Prince George’s County? Prince George’s County already licenses single-family rentals. Its page says the license is for a 2-year term and points to the DPIE Fee Schedule for the cost. It lists four exemptions: a tenant who is the landlord’s parent, child, sibling, grandchild, grandparent or in-law; an active member of the armed forces, Diplomatic Corps or Foreign Service who keeps the home as a domicile and permanent residence; a landlord relocated for work or school who has not leased the home for more than two consecutive years; and a buyer or seller under a pre- or post-settlement occupancy agreement. The county says documentation of an exemption must be provided and accepted. The summary of the Charles County page that I read does not list exemptions. Read the final bill if it passes. ## Is registration the same as a license? The county’s path shows two steps with a fee at each: a registration fee, then a license fee. The county page lists $107 as the annual cost of a license. The part of the page I read does not state the registration fee, so ask the county before you budget. It also sets a separate registration deadline of December 31, 2027, which comes after the July 1, 2027 start. Calvert Cliffs State Park. Photo: Bohemian Baltimore, CC BY-SA 4.0. ## When should I start preparing? Now, for the habit, and again when the county posts final rules. A home that is already kept up is easier to inspect. A folder of records is easier to hand to a county staff member. If the program changes, you lose little. ## Next step Want help getting a Charles County rental ready for inspection? 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 ### Is the Charles County rental license law yet? Not as of October 29, 2026. The county's page says the proposed program is under review by the Charles County Commissioners and is subject to a public hearing and final adoption. It lists a public hearing on October 20, 2026. Check the county page for the outcome. ### How much would a Charles County rental license cost? The county page says a rental license would cost $107 annually, with at least two inspections included. If more reinspections are needed, additional fees may apply. The county also points readers to its adopted Fees and Charges schedule. ### How often would rentals be inspected? Per the county page, standard rental inspections are scheduled every other year and short-term rental inspections are scheduled annually. It says inspections focus on health, safety, fire safety and basic property maintenance conditions. Owner-occupied rentals have narrower inspections. ### Do any Charles County towns license rentals now? Yes. The Maryland People's Law Library table, updated September 22, 2026, lists a long-term rental license as required in La Plata under La Plata Code 155-3 and in Indian Head under Indian Head Code 334-3. Charles County has no countywide license today. ### Why does a missing license matter to a landlord? The People's Law Library says that if a license is required and the property does not have one, the landlord cannot use the summary ejectment procedure to recover unpaid rent. Get any required license before a rent problem starts, not after. ## Terms on this page - [Failure to pay rent](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/failure-to-pay-rent) - [Security deposit](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/security-deposit) - [Rental license](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rental-license) - [Rent-ready](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rent-ready) ## 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. [Charles County Government: Rental Licensing Program, status](https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/rental-licensing-program) 4. [Charles County Government: Rental Licensing Program, inspections](https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/rental-licensing-program) 5. [Maryland People's Law Library: Rental license requirements by county and municipality](https://www.peoples-law.org/rental-license-maryland-county-city-municipality-town-search) 6. [Maryland People's Law Library: Rental license requirements by county and municipality](https://www.peoples-law.org/rental-license-maryland-county-city-municipality-town-search) 7. [Maryland People's Law Library: Failure to pay rent](https://www.peoples-law.org/failure-pay-rent) 8. [Prince George's County: Single-Family Rental Licensing](https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/homeland-security/code-compliance/single-family-rental-licensing) Checked against the sources above on October 19, 2026. Laws, fees and programs change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [Three Maryland Housing Laws That Took Effect October 1, 2026Three Maryland housing laws took effect October 1, 2026: the Fair Chance Housing Act (SB 937), a law on income-based housing subsidies and positive rent reporting (SB 335/HB 315), and an air-conditioning rule for certain apartment buildings with 10 or more units (SB 12). DHCD also published the 2027 Tenants' Bill of Rights.](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/maryland-housing-laws-october-2026) - [Maryland Security Deposit Cap: A One-Month Lease ChecklistMaryland law caps a security deposit at one month's rent per dwelling unit (Real Property 8-203(b)). A narrow exception allows up to two months. Overcharging can cost a landlord up to three times the extra amount plus attorney's fees. Return the deposit, with any interest owed and a list of deductions, within 45 days after the tenancy ends.](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/maryland-security-deposit-checklist) - [Does the Tenants' Bill of Rights Go in Every Maryland Lease?Yes. Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development says landlords must attach a copy of the current Maryland Tenants' Bill of Rights to every lease and may not edit it. Real Property 8-208(c)(4) says a lease shall include the most current version. DHCD publishes an updated version each year by October 1.](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/tenants-bill-of-rights-lease) ## 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)