Real Property - Short-Term Rentals

HB 993 prohibits Maryland counties and municipalities from banning short-term rentals solely because the operator (e.g., a tenant or subtenant) rents the property, not because they own it. It allows local governments to restrict operators who are lessees or sublessees to operating only one short-term rental property within their jurisdiction. The bill defines "short-term rental" as housing offered for less than 31 consecutive days (excluding hotels, motels, or student housing) and clarifies that property owners can still set their own rules about rentals. This directly affects local governments' ability to regulate rentals by tenants and operators who lease the property. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.