Overview: Are STRs allowed in College Park?

Yes. Short-term rentals are allowed in College Park, MD, but they are tightly regulated. To operate legally you must obtain both:

• A City of College Park Short-Term Rental License (Ordinance 23-O-09, Chapter 144), AND
• A Prince George’s County Short-Term Rental Host License (administered by DPIE under CB-11-2018)

Additionally, any hosting platform (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO) must hold a County Platform License. City law expressly requires platforms to verify and require proof of the City STR license before listing a property.

How to start a STR business in this market

Step-by-step (condensed)

1. Confirm eligibility

   • The property must be your permanent residence (you must have the Maryland Homestead Tax Credit at that address).
   • Ensure your HOA or condo association allows short-term rentals; if not, you cannot participate.
   • Confirm zoning and building code compliance (especially for basement/habitable space authorization with DPIE).

2. Assemble required documentation (see next section)

3. County license first (recommended)

   • Create an account in the County’s Momentum portal.
   • Submit a Short-Term Rental Host Application and pay fees.
   • Upon payment, you will receive a 90-day temporary license; if approved, it converts to a permanent license after review.

4. City license

   • Contact College Park Department of Public Services to request the city application/requirements.
   • Submit the City STR license application with required attestations and documentation.
   • Upon approval, you may operate. Display the city license and required postings inside the unit.

5. Platform compliance

   • Provide your City STR License to any hosting platform before listing (City 23-O-09 §144-10).
   • Platforms must be licensed by the County and will verify your city license.

6. Ongoing compliance

   • Maintain a guest log, post rules, keep life-safety devices current, honor parking and occupancy caps, and file any required taxes.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

City (College Park) — 23-O-09 (Chapter 144)

• City Short-Term Rental License application, including:
  • State Sales Tax & Use Registration number
  • Proof of ownership and Homestead Tax Credit filing for the unit
  • Liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 (or platform insurance if approved and at least $1,000,000)
  • Photos as proof of:
    • Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in every bedroom, sleeping area, and on all habitable floors
    • Properly maintained and charged fire extinguishers (mounted, not near stoves; top not higher than 5 feet)
    • Floor plan indicating fire exits and escape routes, posted inside the unit
    • Emergency contact posting and license posting inside the unit
  • Attestations:
    • Compliance with all codes (City Chapter 125, property maintenance, electrical, plumbing, building)
    • HOA/condo compliance (and provide notifications if required)
    • Off-street parking: at least 1 space for every up to 3 overnight guests
    • Two outdoor trash and one recycling receptacle with tight-fitting lids
    • No outstanding taxes or liens; no code violations
    • Current host contact information (physical address, cell, email)
    • Emergency contact (other than host) within 15 miles (physical address, cell, email)
    • List of all platforms you intend to use
    • Intent to apply notification sent to neighbors within 300 feet and to associations
  • Guest log (to be submitted with renewal)
  • Posting of house rules (approved by the Department) by the main entrance
  • Payment of city fees

County (Prince George’s County) — Short-Term Rental Host License (DPIE)

• Short-Term Rental Host Application via Momentum portal
• Homestead Tax Credit eligibility confirmation (Maryland)
• Photos/life safety documentation (see above)
• Liability insurance (minimum $1,000,000)
• Off-street parking availability
• Neighbor/HOA notifications (forms and process available from DPIE)
• Human trafficking training completion (videos and quiz)
• Attestation that all habitable spaces are approved by DPIE; basements/habitable spaces must be authorized by DPIE
• Attestation that the property is free of taxes, liens, and code violations
• All applicable fees (see DPIE Fee Schedule)

Platforms

• County Platform License via Momentum portal
• County requires platforms to verify and maintain City license status for hosts

State (Maryland)

• State Sales Tax & Use Registration number (needed for city application)
• Hotel taxes are collected/remitted (see state-level section below)
• Lead paint law compliance (for pre-1978 housing; see state-level section below)

Specific regulations (College Park, County, and State)

City of College Park (23-O-09, Chapter 144)

• Maximum stay: no rental for more than 30 consecutive days
• Maximum days per calendar year:
  • Owner-occupied: up to 180 days/year (total across all stays, not in addition to non-owner-occupied)
  • Non-owner-occupied: up to 90 days/year
  • You may not combine the 180 and 90 day allowances; cap is 180 days with owner present
• Occupancy caps: no more than 8 guests total; no more than 3 guests per bedroom
• Rentals fewer than 24 hours or by the hour are prohibited; no overlapping bookings
• Life safety: detectors, extinguishers, posted floor plan and emergency contacts, and applicable fire safety code compliance
• Parking: at least 1 off-street space for up to 3 overnight guests
• Waste: 2 outdoor trash + 1 recycling receptacle with tight lids
• Taxes/liens/violations: property must be clear of all outstanding taxes, liens, and code violations
• Posting requirements: license, emergency contact, and house rules by the main entrance
• Guest log: maintain a log of all guests and dates; provide at renewal
• Contact updates: notify the city within 5 business days of any change or face denial/revocation
• Challenge to affirmations: residents/owners within 300 feet and associations can challenge certifications within 30 days; referral to Advisory Planning Commission is possible
• Enforcement:
  • City may inspect with reasonable notice; failure to allow inspection is a violation
  • License can be suspended, revoked, or denied for nuisance, code violations, stop-work orders, fraud/misrepresentation, or failure to maintain continuous compliance
  • City will notify platforms of suspended/revoked/expired licenses or denials; platforms must remove listings
• Penalties (examples):
  • §144-3A/B: Failure to obtain occupancy permit — $1,000
  • §144-3C: Failure to prevent occupancy without a permit — $1,000
  • §144-3D: Failure to secure tenant acknowledgment — $100
  • §144-3E: Removing placard — $1,000
  • §144-9 Short-Term Rental License violations — $1,000 per day
  • §144-10 Violations of incorporated County Code — $1,000
  • §144-11 Chapter violation — $100
  • Continued violation of §144-3C every 30 days = separate municipal infraction

Prince George’s County (CB-11-2018; DPIE administration)

• County requires a Short-Term Rental Host License for hosts and a Platform License for hosting sites
• Owner-occupancy and Homestead Tax Credit are required to establish the unit as the host’s permanent residence
• Habitable spaces must be approved by DPIE; basements/portions of basements cannot be used as bedrooms without authorization
• Life-safety measures required (detectors, extinguishers, posted floor plan); all construction must be permitted
• Neighbor and HOA notifications required prior to issuance
• Off-street parking required
• Human trafficking training required
• County issues temporary licenses (Host: 90 days; Platform: 30 days), converting to permanent licenses after review
• County may inspect and enforce; failure to allow inspection can lead to citation or license action
• Enforcement and penalties codified by County Code CB-11-2018; platforms must remove hosts with suspended/revoked/expired licenses

State of Maryland

• Sales and Use Tax: short-term rentals are generally subject to Maryland sales tax (6%) unless a specific exemption applies. Hosts should register for Sales & Use Tax with the Maryland Comptroller and collect/remit the tax as required.
• Hotel Tax: Prince George’s County imposes a hotel tax (typically 7–8% combined state/county rate, subject to change). Hosts should confirm the current rate and remit through their platform or directly to the county as applicable.
• Transient Rental Taxes: certain municipalities may impose additional transient rental taxes; verify whether College Park or Prince George’s County add local transient rental taxes in addition to the hotel tax. The City’s ordinance does not impose a separate city transient rental tax in the provided documents.
• Lead Law: Maryland’s Residential Rental Property Lead Law requires lead risk reduction compliance (including free lead paint testing and risk reduction activities) for pre-1978 rental housing. Review the MDE checklist and fact sheets (linked below) to ensure compliance.

Contact information (local authority)

City of College Park — Department of Public Services (Licensing/Occupancy/STRs)

• Phone: 240-487-3500
• Website: www.collegeparkmd.gov/
• Physical Address: 4500 Knox Road, College Park, MD 20740
• Note: Request the STR license application packet from the Department of Public Services and submit per their instructions. In-person or email intake may be used for the City’s application.

Prince George’s County — DPIE (Enforcement Division for STRs)

• Email: MyPGC.us/ContactDPIE (online portal: dpie-cts-prod.powerappsportals.us/)
• Phone: 3-1-1 (Prince George’s County, 301-883-4748)
• Online Portal (Momentum): momentumhome.princegeorgescountymd.gov/
• Fees: See DPIE Fee Schedule (PDF) — link below
• Enforcement Forms (Neighbor Notification, HOA notification, checklists): links below

Maryland Comptroller (Sales & Use Tax Registration)

• Website: www.marylandtaxes.gov/
• Register for Sales & Use Tax for short-term rental operations as required

Links to source pages

• City of College Park Short-Term Rental Ordinance 23-O-09 (PDF): www.collegeparkmd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5620/23-O-09?bidId=
• Prince George’s County — Short-Term Rental Licensing (DPIE): www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/permitting-inspections-and-enforcement/licensing/rental-housing-licenses/short-term-rental-licensing
• Momentum Portal (County online licensing): momentumhome.princegeorgescountymd.gov/
• Momentum Information and resources: www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/permitting-inspections-and-enforcement/about-dpie/resources/momentum-resources
• DPIE Fee Schedule (PDF): www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/media-document/DPIE%20Fee%20Schedule.pdf
• County STR FAQs (PDF): www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/media-document/dcv32693_short-term-rentals-str-frequently-asked-questions.pdf
• County STR Checklist (PDF): www.collegeparkmd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/26448/Short-Term-Rentals-Checklist-PDF
• STR Neighbor Notification (Proof of Intent to Apply) (PDF): www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/media-document/dcv27027_str-proof-of-intent-to-apply-for-license-neighbor-notification-pdf.pdf
• STR HOA Notification (Proof of Intent to Apply) (PDF): www.collegeparkmd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/27028/STR-Proof-of-Intent-to-Apply-for-License-HOA-PDF
• Enforcement Division Forms (DPIE): www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/permitting-inspections-and-enforcement/about-dpie/resources/forms-checklists/enforcement-forms
• Maryland Homestead Property Tax Credit Program: dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/pages/maryland-homestead-tax-credit.aspx
• Maryland Residential Rental Property Lead Law Compliance Checklist (MDE PDF): www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/media-document/Residential%20Rental%20Property%20Lead%20Law%20Compliance%20Checklist.pdf
• Maryland Lead Law Fact Sheets 2022 (MDE PDF): www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/media-document/Marylands%20Lead%20Law%20Fact%20Sheet%202022%20lk.pdf
• Maryland Lead Law — Title 1 Subtitle 5 (MDE PDF): www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/media-document/Title1%20Subtitle%205%20Local%20Government%20Article%20lk.pdf
• Maryland Lead Law — Title 6 Subtitle 8 (MDE PDF): www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/media-document/Title%206%20Subtitle%208%20Environment%20Article%20starts%20at%20Sec%208%20lk.pdf

Notes and practical tips

• Start with the County (Momentum) to secure your host license and temporary operating window, then complete the City application to satisfy the City’s requirements and platform verification.
• Maintain rigorous records and posting compliance; City enforcement can revoke licenses and bar reapplication for 3 years in some cases.
• Confirm current tax rates (hotel tax and any local transient taxes) with the County and Maryland Comptroller before listing.