Short-Term Rental Regulations · Chesapeake Bay, MD
Is Chesapeake Bay short-term-rental friendly?
Yes in Annapolis, with an annual operating license and inspection. In Dameron, in unincorporated St. Mary's County, no current STR-specific permit path was found, so confirm with the county before listing.
Last updated: . Every fact links to its official source.
Town-by-town rules
| Town | Permit required? | Annual cost | Primary-residence / night-cap limits | Lodging tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annapolis | A Short-Term Rental Operating License is required. The City accepts applications through its CSS portal and requires annual inspection and renewal. (Annapolis rental licensing procedures (opens in a new tab), Annapolis STR portal (opens in a new tab)) | Owner-occupied STR license fee is $650 and non-owner-occupied fee is $750. Event-only registration for Navy graduation or boat shows has no license fee. (Annapolis rental licensing procedures (opens in a new tab)) | A licensee must reside in the City or employ a local property manager with a City residence or office. No lessee may rent for more than 90 consecutive days. Occupancy is subject to Chapter 17.40. (Annapolis rental licensing procedures (opens in a new tab)) | Anne Arundel County occupancy tax is 8% of rent. The City portal says this applies to short-term residential rentals facilitated by hosting platforms. (Annapolis STR portal (opens in a new tab)) |
| St. Mary's County (unincorporated, incl. Dameron) | County zoning materials classify uses and set general development rules, but no STR permit or license path for Dameron was found. The lack of a stated prohibition does not mean STRs are permitted. (St. Mary's County Article 5 zoning ordinance (opens in a new tab)) | No current STR permit or application fee for Dameron was found in the cited materials. (St. Mary's County Article 5 zoning ordinance (opens in a new tab), St. Mary's County public accommodations tax form (opens in a new tab)) | No residency cap or annual night cap for short-term residential rentals in Dameron was stated in the cited materials. (St. Mary's County Article 5 zoning ordinance (opens in a new tab)) | The county public accommodations tax form shows 5% of gross transient charges, filed under Hotel/Motel. Confirm with County Finance whether it applies to a whole-home STR in Dameron. (St. Mary's County public accommodations tax form (opens in a new tab)) |
"Not found" means the restriction was not located in the linked official materials reviewed as of the update date. It does not prove that no later, uncodified, parcel-specific, or special-district rule applies.
Good to know
- Annapolis: Annapolis rules apply only inside City limits. County rules apply outside the City. (Annapolis rental licensing procedures (opens in a new tab))
- St. Mary's County (unincorporated, incl. Dameron): No STR-specific permit, fee, or cap for Dameron was found in the cited county materials. Confirm directly with St. Mary's County Land Use and Growth Management and Finance before listing. (St. Mary's County Article 5 zoning ordinance (opens in a new tab), St. Mary's County public accommodations tax form (opens in a new tab))
FAQ
Are Annapolis and Dameron governed by the same rules?
No. Annapolis is a city with its own STR license program. Dameron is in unincorporated St. Mary's County, where no STR-specific permit path was found.
What is Annapolis occupancy tax?
The City portal states Anne Arundel County occupancy tax is 8% of rent.
What rules apply in Dameron?
County zoning rules and a 5% public accommodations tax apply generally, but no STR-specific permit path for Dameron was found. Confirm with the county before listing.
What should be verified?
Confirm the property's zoning, County land use interpretation, licensing path, and tax registration directly with St. Mary's County before listing.
General information, not legal advice. Short-term rental rules change, so verify current requirements with the jurisdiction before listing.