§ 17.44.010. Required.

A.

No person shall let for occupancy or use any vacant single rental dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, bed and breakfast home, roominghouse, or bargehouse without a current operating license issued by the Department of Planning and Zoning, after the application for the license has been approved by the Director of Planning and Zoning, with the concurrence of the Fire Chief, and the County Health Officer, for the specific named unit, multiple dwelling, bed and breakfast home, roominghouse, or bargehouse.

B.

Short Term Rentals. The requirements of this chapter shall apply to all owners or tenants of rental dwelling units as defined in Section 17.40.110 of the Code of the City of Annapolis who enter into agreements, written or oral, for their rental for up to six months in any calendar year. For short term rentals, the tenant will occupy the entire dwelling unit without the necessity of a written sublease. The fee for a short term rental license shall be set by resolution of the City Council.

(1)

The owners of all such rental dwelling units who enter into any such rental agreements shall permit the Department of Planning and Zoning to enter each such rental dwelling unit for the purpose of making inspections necessary to ensure compliance with Chapter 17.40 and this chapter. No short term rental operating license shall be issued or continued without an inspection of all rooms and a determination of compliance with Chapter 17.40 and this chapter.

(2)

During a short term tenant occupancy, the owner of the short term dwelling unit shall: (i) not allow in excess of two individuals per bedroom, excluding small children and post a notice on the back of the main entrance door to this effect; (ii) keep a reservation log to include the owner(s) and primary guest(s) name(s), address(es), and phone number(s); and (iii) install interconnected smoke alarms with a detection unit on each level of the dwelling unit in addition to battery-operated smoke alarms in each bedroom as required by Chapter 17.40. Short term rental licensees have six months from the date of this Ordinance's adoption to comply with its provisions. Failure of the owner to comply with this Ordinance shall constitute a municipal infraction which shall subject the owner to a fine set by the City Council and shall subject the owner to loss of the rental license.

(3)

The provisions of this section shall not apply to owners of short term rentals that rent their dwelling units exclusively in connection with annual U.S. Naval Academy graduation ceremonies and activities or with activities associated with the annual power boat and sailboat shows in the City.

C.

When an operating license is suspended or revoked or an application for renewal is denied, it shall be unlawful for any person to let for occupancy or use any dwelling unit or bargehouse then vacant or becoming vacant until a license has been reissued or revalidated.

(Ord. O-30-08 Amended § 1 (part), 2009: Ord. O-1-05 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. O-26-03 § 1 (part): Ord. O-29-88 § 1 (part): revised during 1985 codification; prior code § 12-16(a))

(Ord. No. O-41-08, § I, 5-11-2009; Ord. No. O-28-11 Amended, § II, 9-12-2011; Ord. No. O-23-12, § I, 7-23-2012; Ord. No. O-12-16 Amended, § I, 5-23-2016)